Telehealth Parent-Only Treatment for Kids with Autism and Overweight/Obesity
Official title: Telehealth Parent-Only Treatment for Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Overweight/Obesity
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11374887 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A telehealth program helps parents of children with autism and overweight/obesity lose weight and improve behaviors, using parent-focused sessions delivered remotely.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $641,047 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD106991-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11374887 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Families with a child aged 0-11 years with ASD and overweight/obesity, who have access to telehealth and are willing to participate in parent-focused sessions.
✕Less likely to help
Children without ASD, without overweight/obesity, or families lacking telehealth access may not benefit from this program.
What this research studies
This grant supports a family-centered telehealth program for children with autism who also struggle with overweight or obesity. It builds on a prior parent-based approach (PBT-ASD) and tests a tailored, remotely delivered treatment to help parents guide their child’s weight loss and healthy habits. The study involves recruiting families, delivering structured online sessions, and tracking child weight and health outcomes over time. The goal is to provide an accessible, cost-effective option that fits families’ schedules and ASD-specific needs. If successful, the approach could be scaled to more families and clinical settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, families could access an effective, convenient way to support healthy weight and improved well-being for children with ASD.
How similar studies have gone: Previous pilot data suggested feasibility, acceptability, and initial efficacy for parent-based treatment in this population, with noninferiority to traditional approaches on child weight loss.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boutelle, Kerri N — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Boutelle, Kerri N
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Telehealth Support for Parents of Children with Autism and Weight Concerns
This project helps parents of children with autism spectrum disorder who are also overweight or obese learn strategies to support their child's health through online sessions.
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Telehealth treatment for parents of children with autism and obesity
This study is testing a new online program to help parents of children with autism who are also struggling with being overweight, giving them helpful tips to manage their child's weight from the comfort of home.
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Understanding how phthalate exposure before birth affects childhood weight and if certain diets can help
This project explores how exposure to common chemicals before birth might affect a child's weight and if healthy eating habits can offer protection.
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Effects of sedentary time on heart function in youth with overweight or obesity
This study is looking at how sitting too much might impact the heart's health in young people who are overweight or obese, to help find ways to keep their hearts healthier.
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Helping parents promote healthy eating and exercise in pediatric cancer survivors with obesity
This study is helping families of kids aged 5-11 who have survived cancer and are dealing with being overweight or obese by encouraging parents to promote healthy eating and exercise, making it easier for everyone to adopt better habits together.
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How prenatal exposure to phthalates affects childhood obesity and dietary strategies to protect against it
This study is looking at how being exposed to certain chemicals during pregnancy might affect a child's weight as they grow up, and it will also explore ways to help reduce any weight gain linked to these chemicals through diet.
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.