# Engagement in Weight Management for Adolescents from Low-SES Backgrounds

> **NIH AHRQ F32** · MIRIAM HOSPITAL · 2020 · $68,526

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Adolescent obesity is a significant public health concern, with 40% of adolescents in the U.S. categorized as
overweight or obese. Adolescents from low income backgrounds are at heightened risk for obesity. Hospital-
based pediatric weight management programs currently exist across the country and have led to positive
changes in weight status and related health outcomes, yet, adolescents from low-income backgrounds are less
likely to engage in these programs than their higher-income peers. At present, there is a lack of research
investigating the manner in which to best promote increased initiation and engagement in these hospital-based
weight management programs for adolescents from low-income backgrounds. The Chronic Care Model (CCM)
serves as an important framework for examining the engagement of adolescents from low-income backgrounds
in weight management programs, due to the broader focus on the patient and provider interactions to promote
improved health outcomes and focus on obesity as a chronic condition. The current study utilizes the CCM
framework to examine multiple perspectives (i.e., adolescent, parent, provider) of initiation and ongoing
engagement in weight management for adolescents from low-income backgrounds. The overall aims of the study
are to 1) better understand barriers and facilitators to weight management initiation and engagement for
adolescents from low-income backgrounds through individual provider interviews (1a) and focus groups of
parents and adolescents (1b); and 2) identify specific treatment adaptations for existing weight management
programs through collaboration with key stakeholders (e.g., physicians, hospital administrators, existing
professional networks). This innovative study will have important clinical implications as findings will inform
recommendations for targeted adaptations to hospital-based weight management appropriate for adolescents
from low-income backgrounds. This highly structured proposed training plan is ideally suited to allow for
execution of the proposed research project and necessary training in support of the applicant’s long-term career
goals. Specifically, the application will receive training in 1) evidence-based weight management interventions
for adolescents from low-income backgrounds; 2) qualitative data methods and analysis; 3) proficiency in
conceptual theories of healthcare research implementation; and 4) dissemination, manuscript preparation, and
grant writing skills. Training will be guided by an outstanding mentorship team with expertise in adolescent
obesity, health disparities in pediatric populations, qualitative methodologies, and implementation science.
Therefore, the proposed training and research plans, along with the rich training environment available at The
Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center (WCDRC) of The Miriam Hospital and the Department of
Psychiatry and Human Behavior (DPHB) of the Alpert Medical School of Brown University w...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10000774
- **Project number:** 5F32HS027071-02
- **Recipient organization:** MIRIAM HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Katherine Elizabeth Darling
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** AHRQ
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $68,526
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-08-05 → 2022-08-04

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10000774

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10000774, Engagement in Weight Management for Adolescents from Low-SES Backgrounds (5F32HS027071-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10000774. Licensed CC0.

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