# Adapting an Adolescent Weight Management Program for a Type 1 Diabetes Population

> **NIH NIH K23** · MIRIAM HOSPITAL · 2024 · $186,870

## Abstract

PROJECT ABSTRACT
Comorbid overweight/obesity (BMI>85th percentile for sex and age) was rare in youth with type 1 diabetes
mellitus (T1DM) prior to the 1990s, but the prevalence now exceeds that of youth in the general population.
Behavioral weight management interventions are evidence-based, first-line treatments for pediatric obesity.
Yet, there are unique challenges of T1DM that require thoughtful adaptations to these interventions. Examples
include reduced exercise and excess calorie consumption due to hypoglycemia. Adolescents with T1DM and
comorbid overweight/obesity are also at high risk of developing disordered eating behaviors. There is a critical
need for behavioral weight management interventions that address barriers specific to T1DM and incorporate
attention to eating disorder prevention in this at-risk population. The objective of this K23 project is to adapt the
primary mentor’s (Dr. Elissa Jelalian) established 16-week adolescent weight management intervention for a
T1DM population. Using the Obesity-Related Behavioral Intervention Trials (ORBIT) model, a framework for
intervention development, this project will design, refine, and test an adapted behavioral weight management
intervention for adolescents with comorbid T1DM and overweight/obesity using two related yet distinct studies.
Study 1 will ensure feasibility (i.e., participant attendance) and acceptability of intervention materials by
adolescents with comorbid T1DM and overweight/obesity using an open-trial design with 2-3 small groups (n=5
adolescents/group). Participants will complete validated measures of acceptability after each weekly session
and an exit survey post-intervention. The Candidate will iteratively refine the intervention based upon Study 1
results. Study 2 will compare the adapted weight management intervention to a usual care control group using
a pilot randomized controlled trial design (n=50 total adolescents) to verify that the adapted intervention
reduces participant BMI and increases the percent time spent in the target blood glucose range (70-180mg/dL;
primary outcomes). Participants in Study 2 will complete ecological momentary assessments (EMA) at
baseline and 16-weeks to determine events of maladaptive eating and weight control behaviors over time
(secondary outcomes). Exploratory analyses will evaluate correlates of these maladaptive eating and weight
control behaviors in real-world settings. This K23 project builds upon the Candidate’s prior work in pediatric
obesity and T1DM. The highly qualified and expert mentorship team will provide support and oversight,
allowing the Candidate to acquire the necessary skills to launch an independent research career aimed at
improving weight management for adolescents with comorbid T1DM and overweight/obesity. Results will
provide data for a subsequent application to conduct a fully powered randomized controlled trial to test the
efficacy of the adapted weight management intervention. The proposed project a...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10839425
- **Project number:** 5K23DK132457-03
- **Recipient organization:** MIRIAM HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Jennifer Lynn Warnick
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $186,870
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-09-01 → 2027-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10839425

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10839425, Adapting an Adolescent Weight Management Program for a Type 1 Diabetes Population (5K23DK132457-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10839425. Licensed CC0.

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