Preventing excess weight in young children with Down syndrome
Official title: Obesity Prevention Targets for Down Syndrome
Funded at Colorado State University · NIH-11176816 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test ways to prevent excess weight in young children with Down syndrome by tracking their growth, eating, activity, and sleep.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Colorado State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fort Collins, United States) |
| Project start | September 3, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $634,492 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD105233-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11176816 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Young children with Down syndrome—particularly around ages 2–6—and their caregivers who can attend regular study visits and complete caregiver questionnaires.
✕Less likely to help
People without Down syndrome or adults with long-standing obesity who are outside the early-childhood prevention window are unlikely to benefit directly from this study.
What this research studies
We will follow young children with Down syndrome over several years and visit them regularly to measure weight, diet, physical activity, motor skills, and sleep. Caregivers will report on feeding habits, daily routines, and any medical concerns. The team will combine these measurements to identify which factors most strongly drive early weight gain. Findings will point to practical targets caregivers and clinicians can use to help children stay at healthier weights as they grow.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could identify changeable habits and care practices that prevent overweight and obesity in children with Down syndrome, improving long-term health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Most prior work has been retrospective and descriptive, so this prospective, longitudinal approach for early obesity prevention in Down syndrome is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Daunhauer, Lisa Ann — Colorado State University
- Study coordinator: Daunhauer, Lisa Ann
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Obesity Prevention Targets for Down Syndrome
A study to find early, practical ways to prevent overweight and obesity in children and adults with Down syndrome.
-
Preventing obesity in children with Down syndrome
This study is looking at ways to help prevent obesity in children with Down syndrome by understanding what factors might contribute to weight gain, and it involves working closely with families to find the best strategies for keeping these kids healthy as they grow up.
-
Helping communities use proven obesity-prevention ideas for kids
A study will test network-based approaches to help coalitions that serve underserved communities adopt proven obesity-prevention strategies for children.
-
GrowSmart: A kid-friendly AI tool to help primary care teams prevent obesity
A pediatric primary care tool using artificial intelligence helps identify kids at risk for obesity and supports doctors and families in choosing healthy lifestyle steps.
-
Strategies to boost impact of an obesity prevention program in communities
A project will test how to scale and optimize HEALTH, a proven weight-management program for young adult women, in real community settings.
-
Community-driven Infant Obesity Prevention: Supporting Healthy Feeding by Addressing Moms’ Mental Health
A community-informed program helps low-income families with infants develop healthy eating and feeding habits early, while supporting mothers’ mental health.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.