School programs to prevent obesity in American Indian children
Full Project 2: A School-Based Partnership with Rural Tribal Schools for the Primary Prevention of Obesity among American Indian Youth (P2)
A Navajo Nation school program helps American Indian children eat healthier and be more active to prevent obesity and related illnesses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tucson, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11195138 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your child attends one of three tribal schools on the Navajo Nation, this program works with school staff to improve school meals, increase physical activity, and teach healthy habits. The team partners with schools to put School Wellness Policies into practice, change foods served and sold, add activity opportunities, and deliver classroom nutrition and activity lessons. Staff will collect simple measures like students' height, weight, diet and activity information over time to see whether the school changes help reduce excess weight and future health risks.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are American Indian children enrolled at the participating tribal schools on the Navajo Nation (often elementary grades) and their families.
Not a fit: Children who do not attend the participating tribal schools or families who cannot engage with school-based activities are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could lower childhood obesity rates and reduce future risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and obesity-related cancers for participating youth.
How similar studies have performed: School wellness programs have shown benefit in many U.S. schools, but this approach is less tested in rural tribal schools and is adapting known methods to a community with limited prior research.
Where this research is happening
Tucson, United States
- University of Arizona — Tucson, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nuno, Velia Leybas — University of Arizona
- Study coordinator: Nuno, Velia Leybas
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 below.