Teaching high school students about energy balance and healthy living
Official title: The Science of Essential Balance
Funded at University of North Carolina Greensboro · NIH-10452760 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a fun new program called The Science of Essential Balance, which helps high school students learn about healthy eating and staying active through hands-on activities and technology, all while aiming to prevent obesity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of North Carolina Greensboro NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Greensboro, United States) |
| Project start | September 14, 2018 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2022 |
| Award (this year) | $256,431 |
| NIH project number | 5R25GM129805-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10452760 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are high school students in the Piedmont region of North Carolina who are enrolled in health-related courses.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not in high school or those outside the Piedmont region of North Carolina may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project aims to create and test a curriculum called The Science of Essential Balance (SEB) for high school students, focusing on energy-balanced living. It will involve 40 lessons that teach students about nutrition, exercise, and obesity prevention through hands-on scientific inquiry. The curriculum will utilize mobile technology to engage students in collecting and analyzing data related to their own dietary habits and physical activity. The effectiveness of this curriculum will be evaluated through studies conducted in various high schools in North Carolina.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could empower students with knowledge and skills to make healthier lifestyle choices, potentially reducing obesity rates and improving overall health.
How similar studies have gone: Similar educational interventions have shown success in improving health knowledge and behaviors among students, indicating potential for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of North Carolina Greensboro
Greensboro, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Ang — University of North Carolina Greensboro
- Study coordinator: Chen, Ang
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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.