# Home intervention for reducing sugary drinks & obesity in Hispanic women-infants

> **NIH NIH R01** · CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF LOS ANGELES · 2021 · $748,566

## Abstract

Project Summary
Consumption of sugar sweetened beverages and juices (SSB/J) in infancy is associated with obesity in early
childhood. This is a significant public health issue requiring family based solutions. Yet interventions aimed at
SSB/J reduction remain controversial based on limited effects in prior studies and concerns whether targeting
a single factor will have an impact on the multi-factorial problem of obesity. However, while a prior trial in obese
teenagers showed no effect of SSB/J reduction in Caucasians, there was a large significant effect in Hispanics.
Furthermore, no study has examined the effects of SSB/J reduction during infancy when consumption begins
and adipose tissue is rapidly developing. We therefore propose a trial aimed at reducing SSB/J consumption in
low-income, Hispanic post-partum mothers and infants, a segment of the population at high risk for obesity.
Although maternal-infant interventions are needed, they present many challenges including compliance and
retention. We propose an innovative solution that merges components of effective interventions for SSB/J
reduction and maternal-infant nutrition, into an existing home visit program (HVP), which are federally
supported nationwide for promoting child development in high-risk populations. The 24-month intervention will
focus on replacing mothers’ intake of SSB/J with water, and delaying introduction and limiting access to SSB/J
in infants using home visits, telephone calls and in one group, home delivery of water/non-caloric beverages.
Hispanic mothers who were overweight/obese prior to pregnancy (n=240) will be randomized with their
newborn infants to one of three groups. Group 1 (efficacy) will receive a modified HVP incorporating a focus on
SSB/J reduction plus home delivery. Group 2 (translation) will be identical to Group 1 without home delivery.
Group 3 (control) will receive standard of care HVP. The main outcome will be body fat by DEXA in mothers
and infants. Aim 1 tests whether the intervention will reduce obesity and metabolic risk in post-partum mothers.
Aim 2 tests whether the intervention reduces the trajectory for body fat and weight-for-length in infants. We will
also examine if these effects are maintained without home delivery, thus supporting scalability of the
intervention approach. Aim 3 tests whether the effects on infants are mediated via maternal transmission
related to changes in maternal sweet taste preference, use of SSB/J to sooth infants, use of sugary foods
during weaning, and the profile of sugars in breast milk. In summary, this trial will generate empirical evidence
to support a scalable, public health, life-course strategy for addressing obesity in Hispanic mothers and infants.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10213699
- **Project number:** 5R01DK109161-05
- **Recipient organization:** CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** Michael Isaac Goran
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $748,566
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-09-17 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10213699

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10213699, Home intervention for reducing sugary drinks & obesity in Hispanic women-infants (5R01DK109161-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10213699. Licensed CC0.

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