# Futuros Fuertes 2.0: A primary care-based intervention to prevent obesity in low-income Latino children

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2023 · $706,087

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Futuros Fuertes 2.0: A primary care-based intervention to prevent obesity in low-income Latino children
 Latino children are at higher risk of obesity and obesity sequelae relative to non-Hispanic white
children. Poverty also increases obesity risk. Disparities in obesity for Latino children emerge in early
childhood; and feeding and sedentary behaviors that increase obesity risk begin in the first two years of life.
Consequently, it is critical to develop and test interventions to prevent obesity among low-income Latino
children beginning in infancy. Primary care provides an ideal setting for obesity prevention among infants and
toddlers given frequent visits in the first two years of life. Incorporating culturally concordant lay health
educators into primary care settings serving diverse, low-income populations is a strategic approach for
leveraging primary care visits to promote healthy behaviors. Furthermore, the use of text messages is a
promising strategy for extending the reach of primary care-based interventions and engaging family members
who do not attend in-person visits. Our team developed and successfully pilot tested Futuros Fuertes 1.0
(Strong Futures), a culturally tailored, primary care-based intervention to prevent obesity in Latino infants and
toddlers. A pilot trial of Futuros Fuertes 1.0 found impact on child health behaviors and BMI z-score and
informed modifications and enhancements leading to Futuros Fuertes 2.0.
 Parents/caregivers receive Futuros Fuertes 2.0 intervention content through: health education and
coaching sessions from a lay health educator, two text messages per week, and environmental prompts. Text
messages are also sent to up to 2 additional family members. Through Futuros Fuertes 2.0, parents are
coached on responsive feeding techniques, foods and beverages that are healthy for their child and those to
avoid, screen time guidelines, and strategies to enhance sleep duration. Our central hypothesis is that a
culturally tailored, primary care-based intervention for low-income Latino parents/caregivers delivered via
health education and coaching sessions in the infant and toddler period and reinforced through text messages
to multiple family caregivers will result in lower BMI at age 2. In Aim 1, we will determine the impact of Futuros
Fuertes 2.0 on children’s BMI and on feeding, screen time and sleep. Low-income Latino infant-
parent/caregiver dyads (n=576) will be recruited from birth to 1 month at two health centers in Northern
California and randomized to: Futuros Fuertes 2.0 or a control intervention. In Aim 2, we will assess mediators
and moderators of intervention effect. In Aim 3, we will use a qualitative approach (semi-structured interviews)
to understand parent and provider experiences with the Futuros Fuertes 2.0 intervention. The Futuros Fuertes
2.0 model may improve feeding, screen time and sleep behaviors among low-income Latino children and
therefore has the potential for lowe...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10656765
- **Project number:** 1R01HD109158-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** Amy Laura Beck
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $706,087
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2023-09-20 → 2028-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10656765

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10656765, Futuros Fuertes 2.0: A primary care-based intervention to prevent obesity in low-income Latino children (1R01HD109158-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10656765. Licensed CC0.

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