Location: Healthy Body Weight Research
Project Number: 3062-10700-003-002-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2021
End Date: Aug 31, 2026
Objective:
The Objective of this research is to evaluate the efficacy and sustainability of diet and physical activity interventions to maintain healthy body weight and reduce risks factors for obesity-related chronic disease in a community setting.
Approach:
ARS will conduct high-impact, community-based research on the roles of diet/physical activity in maintaining healthy body weight. To implement this vision, ARS will collaborate in conducting human studies designed to support the maintenance of healthy body weight, reduce unhealthy weight gain, and reduce risk of obesity-related conditions. This will involve the use of ARS facilities including a community wellness center equipped with a wide variety of exercise equipment (treadmills, step machines, stationary cycles, rowing machines, free weights), indoor pools, indoor/outdoor walking/jogging trails, demonstration kitchen and meeting rooms. These will be used recruit volunteers to studies; conduct diet/physical activity interventions; collect specimens (blood, urine and/or stool samples) from and perform a variety of evaluations (anthropometry, body composition, physiological responses to exercise) of study participants. With the results of these studies, the ARS will determine the specific features of diet/physical activity practices that contributed to successful healthy body weight management as part of the evidence base for the Dietary Guidelines for Americans process.
