Understanding hidden obesity: how body fat, not just weight, affects health
Official title: Research Project - RPL Brown
Funded at University of Idaho · NIH-11362648 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant supports measuring true body fat in adults, to better identify those at risk for diabetes and related conditions beyond BMI alone.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Idaho NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Moscow, United States) |
| Project start | March 11, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $174,481 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM152304-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11362648 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults, especially women and men in rural Idaho, who may be misclassified as nonobese by BMI but have high body fat.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals with BMI accurately reflecting health status may see little direct benefit.
What this research studies
The project aims to uncover people who have excess body fat yet are classified as nonobese by BMI, with a focus on adults in rural Idaho. It will explore how adiposity relates to metabolic risk, prediabetes, and cardiovascular factors, and how aerobic fitness and activity levels influence these risks. Using a population-based approach, the study will combine body composition measurements with health outcomes to improve classification and intervention strategies. The work is centered on the real-world impact of misclassifying obesity on patient care and prevention efforts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to better screening and personalized prevention strategies for diabetes and heart disease.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown BMI can misclassify obesity; this project builds on that evidence with a focused rural Idaho population.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Idaho
Moscow, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Frost, Ann — University of Idaho
- Study coordinator: Frost, Ann
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.