Teaching cooking skills to help young adults with intellectual disabilities lose weight
Official title: Cooking skills to improve long-term weight loss in young adults with intellectual disabilities
Funded at University of Kansas Medical Center · NIH-11028561 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is helping young adults with Down syndrome learn cooking skills to eat healthier and lose weight, so they can feel better and live healthier lives.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kansas Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project start | January 15, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $674,338 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HD116832-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11028561 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are young adults aged 18-26 with intellectual disabilities, particularly those who are overweight or obese.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have intellectual disabilities or are outside the age range of 18-26 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on young adults aged 18-26 with intellectual disabilities, particularly those with Down syndrome, who face high rates of obesity and related health issues. The project aims to develop and implement cooking skills training to promote healthier eating habits and long-term weight loss. By providing structured interventions, the research seeks to empower participants to make better food choices and engage in more physical activity, ultimately improving their overall health and quality of life. The approach includes active follow-up and support to ensure sustainable lifestyle changes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to significant improvements in weight management and health outcomes for young adults with intellectual disabilities.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in similar interventions for adults with intellectual disabilities, indicating potential for positive outcomes in this population.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kansas Medical Center
Kansas City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Donnelly, Joseph E. — University of Kansas Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Donnelly, Joseph E.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Predicting Weight Regain After Weight Loss Through Body Signals
A study with people who are losing weight will check how their body’s metabolism and appetite signals might influence if they regain weight later.
-
Engaging men in weight loss with a game-based mental training and app program
A game-based mobile program designed for American men to help them lose weight by combining engaging gaming features with brain training.
-
Simplifying dietary self-monitoring to boost weight loss success
A study tests a lighter, easier way to track food to help adults with overweight or obesity lose weight through a digital program.
-
Activin signaling in muscles, aging, and weight loss
Aims to understand how activin signals in muscle affect aging, weight loss, and daily function, especially in older adults.
-
How the brain drives overeating and weight loss with GLP-1 medications
Scientists are studying how brain circuits that control food seeking respond to obesity and weight loss with a GLP-1 drug, to understand why weight loss often doesn’t hold.
-
Off-Ramp Feasibility: finding better ways to taper GLP-1 obesity medicines without weight regain
A small, patient-friendly trial tests how to taper off GLP-1 obesity medicines without quickly regaining weight.
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.