Understanding body fat and energy use in young people with spina bifida
Official title: Body Composition and Energy Expenditure in Youth with Spina Bifida
Funded at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee · NIH-11070423 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at why so many young people with spina bifida struggle with obesity and aims to find better ways to measure body fat and understand how many calories they need, so we can help them manage their weight and stay healthy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin Milwaukee NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2019 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $602,977 |
| NIH project number | 3R01HD096085-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11070423 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are youth aged 0-21 years diagnosed with spina bifida.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without spina bifida or those over the age of 21 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the high rates of obesity in youth with spina bifida, which can reach up to 74%, significantly higher than their peers. The study aims to develop accurate methods for measuring body fat and understanding daily energy expenditure in these individuals. By identifying the right caloric intake needed for maintaining or changing body weight, the research seeks to improve health management for youth with spina bifida. The project will test new approaches to measure body fat that are more suitable for this population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better health management strategies for youth with spina bifida, reducing obesity-related health risks.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in developing methods for measuring body composition in other populations, but this approach is novel for youth with spina bifida.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Milwaukee, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Polfuss, Michele — University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
- Study coordinator: Polfuss, Michele
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding body fat and energy use in young people with spina bifida
This study is looking at why so many young people with spina bifida struggle with obesity and aims to find better ways to measure body fat and daily energy needs, so we can help them manage their weight and stay healthy.
-
Improving care and outcomes for people living with spina bifida in Wisconsin
A patient-friendly project aims to improve everyday care and health outcomes for people with spina bifida in Wisconsin.
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The National Spina Bifida Patient Registry at University of Pittsburgh
A national registry project at the University of Pittsburgh aims to collect and organize information about people with spina bifida to improve care.
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Improving Care and Outcomes for People Living with Spina Bifida
A patient-friendly project aims to improve how people with spina bifida are cared for and how well they do over time.
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Scoliosis and neurosurgical factors in myelomeningocele: a clinic registry study
This project uses registry data from Penn State’s Spina Bifida Clinic to understand how brain and spine-related issues influence when and why scoliosis surgery is needed in people with myelomeningocele.
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UMPIRE: Better Urologic Care for Babies with Spina Bifida
This grant tests how to best protect kidney function in newborns with spina bifida by comparing and refining urologic care practices across multiple hospitals.
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.