# Incorporating Youth Voices in Community-Based Intervention Development to Improve Diet Quality and Physical Activity

> **NIH NIH F32** · RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL · 2024 · $76,984

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Obesity in childhood is a global epidemic with serious health and social consequences.1-4 The highest rates of
obesity are observed among racial/ethnic minority populations and those from economically disadvantaged
backgrounds.1 Rhode Island (RI) is particularly affected by the obesity epidemic; the prevalence of children
who meet criteria for overweight/obese (OW/OB) is 35% in RI as a whole and 40% in Greater Providence57.
The purpose of this mixed methodological study will be to use the Transcreation Framework56 to inform the
development of a behavioral intervention to improve diet quality and increase physical activity for adolescents
in Greater Providence, RI, an urban area with substantial racial/ethnic diversity. In Aim 1 we will conduct an
evaluation of epidemiological, social, and contextual factors related to overweight and obesity in adolescents to
inform a community needs assessment. In Aim 2, we will partner with stakeholders to identify community
assets and unmet needs and to evaluate components of existing evidenced-based lifestyle modification
programs (i.e., diet, physical activity, self-monitoring, goal setting and problem solving, social support). Results
from Aims 1 and 2 will inform Aim 3, in which we will design components of intervention prototype to improve
diet quality and increase physical activity in adolescents. The study will involve the creation of a panel of
adolescents (i.e., Young Voices Panel) whose members will be actively engaged as partners in each step of
the process (e.g., priority setting, data collection/analyses, intervention development). We will use purposeful
sampling to recruit 40 key stakeholders including adolescents from the community and their caregivers.
clinicians (doctors, nurses, dietitians from specialty clinics/pediatricians’ offices), administrators from
government organizations (e.g., RI Department of Health, Housing Agencies), and representatives from
community organizations (e.g., the Greater Providence YMCA, RI Food Bank; Schools, Progresso Latino) to
inform our community needs assessment and the development of our intervention. An overview of data
gathered in Aim 1 will be presented to the research team (i.e., Sponsor and Cosponsors and Young Voices
Panel) to guide the qualitative component of community needs assessment in Aim 2. Group Concept Mapping
will be used to identifying and reviewing existing scientific evidence to determine core components of
behavioral interventions that reflect mechanisms of action. Community Asset Mapping will be used to obtain
input from the community about barriers and facilitators to existing evidenced-based programs as well as
locally developed program and community resources. Aim 3 will involve the creation of intervention protocol
modules through an iterative process of discussions and content development with members of the YVP,
community stakeholders, and the academic research team. The current study will initiate the develo...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10988226
- **Project number:** 5F32HL168806-02
- **Recipient organization:** RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Kristine Durkin
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $76,984
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-09-30 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10988226

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10988226, Incorporating Youth Voices in Community-Based Intervention Development to Improve Diet Quality and Physical Activity (5F32HL168806-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10988226. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*