Sleep and weight in Mexican American toddlers
Sleep and Obesity in Toddlers from Mexican American Families
This project looks at how toddlers' sleep patterns and family or neighborhood factors relate to early childhood weight in Mexican American families.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11187049 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You and your toddler would be followed while researchers collect both objective sleep measurements (like a small wearable sleep monitor) and caregiver-reported information about bedtime routines, family beliefs, and neighborhood conditions. Staff will also track toddlers' growth over time to see how sleep patterns relate to weight gain. The team combines information about acculturation, household practices, and environmental factors to find which influences are linked to short or irregular sleep. Participation involves brief questionnaires and periodic study visits or data collection at home.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are Mexican American toddlers aged about 12 to 39 months and their caregivers who can provide sleep data and answer questions about household and cultural practices.
Not a fit: Children outside the 12–39 month range, families unwilling to provide sleep data or household information, or toddlers from non-Mexican American backgrounds are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to sleep- and family-based strategies to help prevent early obesity in Mexican American toddlers.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have linked poor sleep to obesity in older children, but long-term studies using objective sleep measures in Mexican American toddlers are limited, making this approach relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thompson, Darcy Ann — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Thompson, Darcy Ann
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.