The impact of food insecurity and neighborhood environment on young children's weight changes.
Official title: Food Insecurity, Neighborhood Environment, and Weight Trajectories in Young Children: Implications for Food Assistance Policy
Funded at Drexel University · NIH-11083597 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how not having enough food affects the growth and health of kids under 11, especially in different neighborhoods, and it wants to understand how parents' choices and access to healthy food impact what kids eat and how they grow, while also exploring how programs like WIC can help families get the support they need.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Drexel University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | June 3, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $636,447 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK133389-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11083597 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are families with children aged 0-11 who are experiencing food insecurity.
✕Less likely to help
Families with children who are not facing food insecurity or those outside the age range of 0-11 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how food insecurity affects the growth and health of children under 11 years old, particularly focusing on the differences experienced by families in various neighborhoods. It examines how caregivers' behaviors, such as prioritizing their children's meals, and the availability of healthy food options in their communities influence children's diets and weight. The study also looks at the role of food assistance programs like WIC in supporting families and aims to identify ways to improve participation and benefit redemption among eligible families.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved food assistance policies that better support the health and growth of young children facing food insecurity.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that addressing food insecurity through targeted assistance programs can lead to positive health outcomes for children, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Drexel University
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Le-Scherban, Felice — Drexel University
- Study coordinator: Le-Scherban, Felice
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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.