# Biopsychosocial predictors of obesity during the first 2 years of life

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA GREENSBORO · 2021 · $546,095

## Abstract

Project Summary
The prevalence of childhood obesity is a significant public health crisis. Overweight children
experience significantly more health and psychosocial problems compared to their same age
peers and are likely to carry these problems with them into adolescence and adulthood. In this
proposal, we describe a study of the early development of risk for obesity in childhood. The risk
for obesity in early childhood is likely determined by multiple biological, psychological, and
social factors that are observable in infancy. We propose a conceptual model, a
biopsychosocial model, of the early development of risk for obesity that focuses on several key
biological, psychological, and social factors. Using an experienced team of investigators from
multiple disciplines, we propose to investigate this model with an innovative, multi-method,
longitudinal study of infants and their families (n = 300) beginning in the prenatal period that
addresses these factors across the first two years of life. Our two key aims focus on
understanding (1) factors that predict infant weight gain in the first 6 months of life and (2) the
ways in which this weight gain and infant’s social interactions with mothers in feeding and non-
feeding contexts predict self-regulation, and subsequent obesity risk at age 2. The study has
important implications for the development of targeted prevention and intervention programs for
families and children that may be utilized early in development, prior to the onset of weight gain
that is difficult to reverse.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10179433
- **Project number:** 5R01HD093662-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA GREENSBORO
- **Principal Investigator:** Esther M Leerkes
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $546,095
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-18 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10179433

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10179433, Biopsychosocial predictors of obesity during the first 2 years of life (5R01HD093662-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10179433. Licensed CC0.

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