Mountain West Family Healthy Weight Program
Official title: Mountain West Prevention Research Center Core Research Project
Run by University of Utah · NCT07479498 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether text message outreach and direct enrollment in a community healthy‑weight program help lower‑income families with a 5–12 year old child with obesity sign up for and stay engaged in the program.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 600 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Utah Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Salt Lake City, Utah) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 30, 2024 |
| Main results expected | September 29, 2029 |
| Study ends | September 29, 2029 |
| Registry record updated | March 18, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07479498 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are lower‑income families in the Mountain West with a child aged 5–12 whose BMI is at or above the 85th percentile, who have had a clinic visit in the past year, and whose caregiver has not opted out of text messages and has valid contact information.
✕Probably not a fit
Families where the child has a medical contraindication to moderate physical activity, severe cognitive or physical impairment that prevents participation, or caregivers who have opted out of text communication or lack valid contact information are unlikely to benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This hybrid type 3 effectiveness-implementation sequential multiple assignment randomized trial (HEI‑SMART) identifies children aged 5–12 with BMI ≥85th percentile using clinic electronic health records and contacts caregivers via text messaging. Participating clinical sites in the Mountain West share data with the research team to enable outreach, while community-based organizations deliver the Building Healthy Families (BHF) program and supply de‑identified program data. Enrolled families are randomized in a staged design focusing first on recruitment method and then on retention, comparing text-only outreach versus text plus motivational retention messages and direct enrollment strategies. Community Implementation Teams receive training and participate in learning collaboratives to support program fidelity and local adaptation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could increase enrollment and retention in community healthy‑weight programs and lead to better family eating and activity habits for children with obesity.
How similar studies have gone: Previous programs combining text messaging with community‑based healthy lifestyle programs have shown improved engagement and modest behavior change, though sequential adaptive (SMART) implementation designs in rural low‑income populations are less common.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Families Parent or legal caregiver and at least one child aged 5 to 12 years Child identified through electronic health record data from a participating clinical organization Child has had at least one clinical encounter at the participating site within the past 12 months Child has body mass index (BMI) at or above the 85th percentile for age and sex Caregiver has not opted out of receiving text communication from the clinic Valid mailing address and telephone number listed in the electronic health record Parents and/or Caregivers Parent or legal caregiver of an eligible child Responsible for the child's care and able to provide consent for program participation Children Aged 5 to 12 years at time of identification Meet all criteria listed above Exclusion Criteria: Child has a medical condition or contraindication that precludes participation in moderate physical activity Child has severe cognitive or physical impairment that would prevent participation in the intervention Child or family is currently participating in another structured weight management or obesity treatment program Family opts out of receiving study-related communications
Where it's running
-
The University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Paul A Estabrooks, PhD — University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Madeleine L French, MS
- Email: madeleine.french@utah.edu
- Phone: 6166175034
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Progressive Neuromuscular Stabilization vs. Aerobic Exercise for Obesity in Children
This study tests whether technology-assisted progressive neuromuscular stabilization exercises can improve body composition and balance in children with obesity, compared with standard aerobic exercise.
-
MRI study to see how obesity treatments affect body and organ fat in severely obese kids
This study tests whether adding a GLP-1 receptor agonist to lifestyle changes helps improve body composition and organ fat in adolescents with severe obesity.
-
Bottle flow-rate test for babies and feeding patterns
This study tests whether different bottle nipple flow rates affect how much milk a 4–6 month old infant drinks, how they feed, and their sleep, by watching 220 mother–infant pairs.
-
Exercise after pregnancy to activate infant brown fat
This study will test if a mother's exercise during pregnancy and after birth changes her breast milk so it increases her infant's brown fat activity and energy use.
-
Phentermine to help teens with obesity
This Phase IIb trial will test whether 16 mg of phentermine daily can help overweight adolescents aged 12 to under 18 compared with placebo over a year.
-
School program to improve nutrition, physical activity, and school surroundings for Mexican 4th graders
This project will test whether a school-centered program that changes food, activity, and social surroundings can improve weight and health measures in 9–12-year-old students in three Mexican states.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.