# Adaptation of an Evidence-based Family Program for Obesity Prevention in Health Care Context: Testing Outcomes and Mechanisms with First-time Military Parents and their Infants

> **NIH NIH R01** · PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE · 2022 · $736,286

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 The proposed study will test the efficacy of a family-focused preventive intervention in improving
healthy lifestyles among first-time parents in military families and reducing obesity risk among their
infants. The ultimate goals of the intervention are to reduce rapid infant weight gain, an early indicator of
future obesity risk, and new mothers’ postpartum weight retention, a contributor to intergenerational
obesity transmission. In three trials, the Family Foundations (FF) program—consisting of a series of
classes delivered in a health care context before and after birth—has demonstrated robust, replicated,
long-term impact on family relationships (coparenting, parenting, family violence) and on parent and
child internalizing and externalizing problems through at least 7 years after birth. The theoretical “active
ingredient” of FF, validated by mediation analysis of program impact, is support for the development of a
cohesive, supportive coparenting relationship. In the proposed study, we will test an adapted version of
FF (termed “FF+”) that broadens the coparenting approach to help parents’ cooperate and support each
other in establishing and maintaining healthy family lifestyle behaviors and specific health-promoting
parenting strategies. We propose to test FF+ in military families, who experience overweight/obesity at
levels similar to their civilian counterparts. Recruitment and intervention will be conducted within
obstetric clinics in three Military Health System hospitals. Recruitment, intervention delivery, data
collection, and follow-up will be facilitated by the military context.
 Aim 1. To assess the efficacy of the adapted FF+ program in a randomized trial. 250 families will be
randomized to FF+ or control conditions. Data will be collected in home visits at pre-test during
pregnancy, post-test at 6 months postpartum, and follow-up at 12 months postpartum, with additional data
obtained from electronic health records. Aim 2. To test mediation pathways. Aim 3. To assess whether
baseline parent characteristics, program delivery fidelity, or participant engagement moderate program
effects on outcomes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10504593
- **Project number:** 1R01DK133525-01
- **Recipient organization:** PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE
- **Principal Investigator:** MARK Ethan FEINBERG
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $736,286
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-08-01 → 2027-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10504593

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10504593, Adaptation of an Evidence-based Family Program for Obesity Prevention in Health Care Context: Testing Outcomes and Mechanisms with First-time Military Parents and their Infants (1R01DK133525-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10504593. Licensed CC0.

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