Using mobile phones to help families prevent childhood obesity
Official title: A Hybrid Mobile Phone Family Intervention to Prevent Childhood Obesity
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-10755690 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a program that helps Latino families with young kids, ages 2 to 5, learn how to eat healthier, move more, and spend less time in front of screens, all while having fun together as a family!
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | April 13, 2022 |
| Project end | October 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $624,084 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MD016135-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10755690 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are Latino families with children aged 2 to 5 years who are at risk of obesity.
✕Less likely to help
Families with children outside the age range of 2 to 5 years or those not identifying as Latino may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a community-based intervention aimed at preventing obesity in young Latino children aged 2 to 5 years. It combines in-person sessions with mobile phone components to engage multiple family caregivers in promoting healthier dietary habits, reducing screen time, and increasing physical activity. The approach is designed to leverage the cultural value of family connectedness, ensuring that interventions are relevant and effective for Latino families. By focusing on the family unit, the study aims to create sustainable lifestyle changes that can positively impact children's health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to effective strategies for preventing childhood obesity, particularly in Latino communities.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success with family-based interventions for childhood obesity, but this approach is innovative in its use of mobile technology and focus on multiple caregivers.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Guerrero, Alma D — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Guerrero, Alma D
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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A hybrid mobile-family program to prevent obesity in preschoolers
A neighborhood-friendly program uses in-person meetings plus mobile phone support to help Latino families with 2- to 5-year-olds adopt healthier eating, less screen time, and more activity to prevent obesity.
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A study from Stanford aims to spread and improve a well-proven healthy-lifestyle program for children with obesity so more families can use it effectively.
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A 3-year study in New York aims to make it easier to find and connect families with social supports to prevent obesity from infancy into later childhood.
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Childhood obesity and cardiometabolic health in Latino youth from low-income families
This project follows Mexican American kids from birth through mid-adolescence to understand how weight and heart health develop over time.
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Prenatal exercise modes and how they affect child obesity risk
This study tests which exercise type during pregnancy best protects children from obesity and metabolic problems later in life for women who are overweight or obese.
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.