# Reducing weight stigma to improve long-term weight loss

> **NIH NIH K23** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2020 · $167,045

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 My long-term career goal is to be an independent investigator with a multidisciplinary program of
research in the treatment of obesity. As a clinical psychologist, my prior training has focused on identifying and
reducing harmful psychosocial consequences of obesity, including weight-based stigma. However, in order to
achieve my goal of conducting research to reduce adverse health consequences and improve quality of life for
persons with obesity, it is essential that I have additional training in the clinical treatment of obesity. The K23
award would enable me to devote 90% of my effort to filling critical gaps in my training and to conducting
research that will facilitate my becoming an independent clinical investigator in obesity.
 The proposed training plan will support my career goals by addressing three fundamental areas: 1)
conducting clinical trials in obesity treatment; 2) assessing and promoting study participants' engagement in
physical activity; and 3) understanding biological mechanisms that increase risk for cardiometabolic disease. I
will obtain training in these areas by: receiving guidance from expert mentors in the field; completing
coursework and attending seminars; and engaging in related research activities. This training plan will give me
the knowledge and skills needed to prepare a successful R01 application by the end of the K23 award period.
 My research project will complement my training objectives while also building upon my prior stigma-
related research efforts. In a randomized controlled trial, I will test the effects on long-term weight loss of a
novel clinical intervention designed to help individuals with obesity cope with weight stigma, combined with .
standard behavioral weight loss. I believe that reducing WBI will improve long-term weight loss by increasing
physical activity, a behavior consistently associated with greater long-term weight loss. This research project
will also incorporate assessments of cardiometabolic risk to determine whether reducing WBI helps to improve
physical health. The proposed research project could have significant clinical implications for enhancing the
treatment of obesity and reducing the negative effects of weight stigma.
 The environment at the Center for Weight and Eating Disorders at the University of Pennsylvania
(Penn) is ideal for supporting my training and research needs. The Center will provide practical resources for
data management and participant recruitment, assessment, and treatment. I will receive mentorship primarily
from Dr. Thomas Wadden, the Center's director. Additional mentorship and research resources will be
provided by Dr. John Jakicic (director of the Physical Activity and Weight Management Center at the University
of Pittsburgh School of Education) and Dr. Daniel Rader (director of the Penn Preventive Cardiovascular
Program). Outside of these specific centers, I will have access to several other academic programs at Penn to
supp...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9838806
- **Project number:** 5K23HL140176-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Rebecca L Pearl
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $167,045
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-12-15 → 2020-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9838806

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9838806, Reducing weight stigma to improve long-term weight loss (5K23HL140176-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9838806. Licensed CC0.

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