NIH Grant to Help 海角社区 Researchers Fight Youth Obesity Using Virtual and Real-Life Tools
February 16, 2024
Dr. Senlin Chen
海角社区 Kinesiology Professor Senlin Chen, PhD, and his team are developing a novel obesity prevention program to use in Louisiana schools, combining such tactics as virtual pets and coaches with the best science to encourage healthy behaviors.
Funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health, Chen鈥檚 ProudMe intervention integrates daily experiences in virtual and real life to influence behaviors 鈥� including physical activity, diet, screen time, and sleep 鈥� followed by an assessment of outcomes.
鈥淭his research study is the innovative approach we need to get kids on a healthier track,鈥� said team member Dr. Amanda E. Staiano of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center. 鈥淲e're designing this tool and testing it out right here in Baton Rouge schools. What we learn from our local kids in this study will help improve children's health in schools across the country.鈥�
This important research directly supports 海角社区鈥檚 Scholarship First Agenda, particularly in biomedical research and discovery, and ensures 海角社区 is meeting 鈥渢he challenge of improving the state鈥檚 health outcomes head-on.鈥�