Weight-neutral plan to improve health in adults with higher weight
Official title: Optimizing a Weight Neutral Intervention to Improve Health Among Adults of Higher Body Weight: A MOST Preparation Phase Study
Funded at Miriam Hospital · NIH-11335759 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small, patient-facing study tests a weight-neutral approach to help adults with higher body weight improve cardiometabolic health without focusing on weight loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Miriam Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $111,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R03DK140291-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11335759 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 years and older with higher body weight who are interested in improving health through non-weight-focused strategies.
✕Less likely to help
People seeking rapid weight loss or who require medical weight-loss interventions may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
This project uses the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) to develop and refine a weight-neutral program that improves health by changing dietary quality and physical activity in a sustainable way. The team will identify which weight-neutral techniques (like responding to hunger cues, reducing rigid eating rules, and boosting enjoyment of activity) contribute most to health benefits. Findings will help create a clearly defined intervention that can be tested further in larger studies. The study is conducted at Miriam Hospital under the leadership of Kayloni L. Olson and aims to address a real need for long-lasting improvements in health for adults with higher body weight.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a practical, sustainable path to better cardiometabolic health without focusing on weight loss.
How similar studies have gone: Weight-neutral approaches are an emerging area with growing interest, but clear efficacy varies and optimization is ongoing.
Where this research is happening
-
Miriam Hospital
Providence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Olson, Kayloni L. — Miriam Hospital
- Study coordinator: Olson, Kayloni L.
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.