Training medical residents in weight management counseling skills
Official title: MRWeight: Medical Residents Learning Weight Management Counseling Skills -- A Multi-Modal, Technology-Assisted, Spaced Education Program
Funded at Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester · NIH-11083593 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about helping doctors in training learn better ways to talk to patients about managing their weight, so they can help fight health problems like heart disease and diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project start | May 2, 2023 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $724,686 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK134372-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11083593 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are medical residents who are in training and will be involved in patient care related to weight management.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not involved in the training of medical residents or those who do not require weight management counseling may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving how medical residents are trained to counsel patients on weight management, which is crucial for addressing obesity-related health issues like heart disease and diabetes. The program uses a multi-modal approach that includes didactic sessions, practice through video assessments, and reinforcement emails over a year. By employing the 5As framework (Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, Arrange), the training aims to enhance residents' skills and confidence in providing effective weight management counseling to their future patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better-trained physicians who can effectively help patients manage their weight, potentially reducing the incidence of obesity-related diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that structured training programs can improve counseling skills among healthcare providers, suggesting that this approach may also be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
Worcester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sadasivam, Rajani — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
- Study coordinator: Sadasivam, Rajani
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
EMBER: a self-help tool to boost Veterans' use of VA weight-management programs
A self-guided motivational tool to help Veterans learn about and join VA weight-management services.
-
Weight management and center-based heart health program for Black adults with CKD
A multi-component lifestyle program is tested to help Black adults with chronic kidney disease lower blood pressure and improve heart and kidney health.
-
GLP-1 receptor agonists before pregnancy to improve weight and pregnancy outcomes
This project looks at whether using GLP-1 receptor agonists before pregnancy can help women with obesity lose weight and have better pregnancy outcomes.
-
Hybrid implementation approach to scale a weight‑management program for adults with serious mental illness
A Johns Hopkins team is testing how to spread and sustain a proven weight‑loss program for adults with serious mental illness in community mental health settings.
-
Couples-based weight loss with a mobile app
A couple-focused weight loss program delivered through a mobile app that helps partners support each other to lose weight together.
-
Addressing appetitive traits to promote weight management in children who overeat
A family-based program is being tested to help children who overeat improve weight management by reducing food cues and increasing fullness signals.
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.