# Sleep GOALS - An Internet-Assisted Diet, Physical Activity, and Sleep Weight Loss Intervention for Postpartum Women

> **NIH NIH K01** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2024 · $170,451

## Abstract

Postpartum weight retention (PWR) is a significant contributor to obesity in women of reproductive age. PWR
is associated with continued weight gain, obesity development later in life, and cardiovascular disease
development (CVD). Among postpartum women, standard weight-loss interventions that address diet and
physical activity have produced only modest effects. Prior interventions are limited by not adequately
addressing poor sleep, a common issue in postpartum women. Despite epidemiological evidence on the
relationship between sleep and obesity, standard weight-loss interventions rarely include key elements of sleep
interventions. Integrating sleep interventions with diet and physical activity may enhance weight loss among
postpartum women. The overall goal of this K01 is to develop and test the feasibility, acceptability, and
preliminary efficacy of Sleep GOALS (Goal-focused Online Access to Lifestyle Support), an Internet-assisted
multiple health behavior (diet, physical activity, and sleep) weight loss intervention for postpartum women. We
will create Sleep GOALS by adapting and integrating an existing sleep intervention (TSC; Transdiagnostic Sleep
and Circadian intervention) with a diet and physical activity weight-loss intervention (GOALS Lifestyles, an
online version of the Diabetes Prevention Program). We will use intervention mapping to guide the 3-step
adaptation process. First, we will conduct semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 12
primiparous women between 3 and 6 months postpartum with overweight or obesity to review the framework
and content of TSC and GOALS Lifestyle to solicit their suggestions for adapting these interventions for
postpartum women. Step 2: We will pre-test the intervention content by reviewing the proposed adaptations
with the same participants. Step 3: We will use feedback from the participants and experts in behavioral sleep
medicine, weight loss interventions, and behavior change to ensure the adaptations maintain the core
elements of the original interventions and address the specific needs of postpartum women. (Aim 1). We will
then randomize 40 postpartum women to Sleep GOALS or an education control group to test the feasibility,
acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of Sleep GOALS (Aim 2). We will use the pilot trial results to inform the
conduct of a larger and definitive randomized controlled trial. A multi-disciplinary team of experts will guide
my training in 1) intervention development, to learn the science of behavioral change, frameworks for
intervention development and adaptation, and principles of user-centered design; 2) behavioral sleep
medicine, to learn to evaluate sleep problems and developing individual sleep management plans; and 3)
randomized controlled trials to learn the best practices of conducting clinical trials research. Consistent
with the NHLBI’s Strategic Goals and Objectives, this training will allow me to become an independent
researcher who develops/adapts be...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10810831
- **Project number:** 5K01HL161439-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** MARQUIS S HAWKINS
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $170,451
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-03-15 → 2025-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10810831

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10810831, Sleep GOALS - An Internet-Assisted Diet, Physical Activity, and Sleep Weight Loss Intervention for Postpartum Women (5K01HL161439-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10810831. Licensed CC0.

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