Using digital health tools and community health workers to help residents of public housing manage their weight.
Official title: Digital Health Supported Weight Management Intervention Delivered by Community Health Workers Among Public Housing Residents
Funded at Tufts Medical Center · NIH-11077845 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how using digital health tools along with help from community health workers can support people living in public housing in Boston to manage their weight and improve their health through better eating and more physical activity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | February 14, 2020 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $466,497 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA238335-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11077845 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are low-income residents of public housing in Boston who are obese and belong to racial or ethnic minority groups.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not obese or do not reside in public housing may not receive benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how digital health technologies, combined with support from community health workers, can assist low-income residents of public housing in Boston to manage their weight. The approach focuses on promoting behavioral changes related to nutrition and physical activity, particularly among populations facing health disparities. By leveraging the unique insights of community health workers, the study aims to adapt interventions to better fit the social and environmental contexts of participants. The effectiveness of this combined intervention will be evaluated to determine if it leads to significant weight loss and improved health outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide effective weight management strategies that significantly reduce obesity-related health risks for vulnerable populations.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that community health worker-supported interventions can be effective in promoting behavioral change, although the specific combination with digital health tools is still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
Tufts Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Quintiliani, Lisa M. — Tufts Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Quintiliani, Lisa M.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
A program using digital health tools and community health workers to help public housing residents manage their weight.
This study is testing a weight management program for people living in public housing who are dealing with obesity and related health issues, using friendly support from community health workers and helpful text messages to promote healthier eating and more exercise, while comparing their progress to a group that isn't
-
Digital tool to reduce HIV-related stigma in Nepal HIV care centers
A user-friendly digital tool helps clinics measure and reduce stigma related to HIV, mental health, and other factors to improve care for people living with HIV.
-
Digital health strategies to expand lung cancer screening in safety-net clinics
A funded project aims to help low-resource clinics increase the use of lung cancer screening for patients who smoke or are at risk.
-
Culturally tailored digital quit-smoking help for Hispanic/Latinx communities
A digital smoking-cessation program will be culturally adapted for Hispanic/Latinx adults to help them quit smoking and reduce cancer disparities.
-
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.
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.