Key points
CDC's Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration (CORD) projects funded research on implementation of evidence-based strategies for child obesity treatment. They focused on children and families with lower incomes. CORD 3.0 research teams adapted, tested, and packaged effective programs to ensure that they can be used and are sustainable in multiple real-world settings. The aim was to increase the availability of effective programs for millions of children struggling with overweight or obesity.
Background
Both the US Preventive Services Task Force and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend family-centered, intensive health behavior and lifestyle treatment for children with overweight or obesity. These are sometimes also called family healthy weight programs (FHWPs). However, implementing and sustaining programs that deliver this treatment in real-world settings, particularly for children and families with lower incomes, has been challenging.
Building on prior CORD studies, CORD 3.0 funded five research teams from 2019 through 2024. The research teams adapted and tested effective FHWPs that support healthy behaviors and lifestyles and reduce body mass index. They translated the FHWPs into user-friendly, packaged materials for implementation in health care, community, or public health settings.
With CORD 3.0 funds, research teams:
- Developed digital implementation tools or training materials,
- Updated or adapted curriculum materials,
- Assessed costs related to implementation, or
- Addressed barriers to real-world implementation and sustainability.
CORD 3.0 increased the availability of effective Family Healthy Weight Programs for millions of children struggling with overweight or obesity.
CORD 3.0 Recipients
Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital, in collaboration with the American Academy of Pediatrics' Institute for Healthy Childhood Weight, packaged a program called Healthy Weight Clinic. The Massachusetts team developed and tested implementation tools for community-based health centers in Mississippi and Massachusetts. People served in these centers are often enrolled in Medicaid, and obesity is common.
Miriam Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island
The Miriam Hospital evaluated and tested the implementation of the JOIN for ME program in two settings: a public housing authority and patient-centered medical homes. JOIN for ME is a family-centered, behavior-based weight management program that has a strong focus on parental involvement.
Stanford University, California
Stanford University used technology, behavioral theory, and biodesign frameworks to make an effective, behavioral family-based intervention more scalable and affordable. They worked in clinical and community settings. Their program is called the Stanford University Pediatric Weight Control Program.
University of Nebraska
The University of Nebraska packaged the Building Healthy Families (BHF) program for implementation in areas with 10,000 to 50,000 residents. BHF is a family-centered behavioral program for children and families with obesity. The university's approach focused on helping communities fund, contract, or run learning collaboratives in their communities.
Washington University, St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis packaged Family-based Behavioral Treatment (FBT) for use with families with lower incomes in diverse primary care settings. This includes settings in urban and rural communities. FBT is an evidence-based behavioral program for children and their families. The program focused on positive parenting techniques and guiding families toward healthier lifestyles.
Planning & Implementation Process
- Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration 3.0: Study Designs for Scaling Effective Pediatric Weight Management Interventions for High-Risk Children through Packaging and Implementation
- Cost-effectiveness of a primary care-based Healthy Weight Clinic compared with usual care.
- Qualitative comparative analysis of program and participant factors that explain success in a micropolitan pediatric weight management intervention.
- A dissemination strategy to identify communities ready to implement a pediatric weight management intervention in medically underserved areas.
- Multi-sector stakeholder's perceptions of determinants of successful implementation of a pediatric weight management intervention.
Outcomes & Effectiveness
- Scaling What Works: The Role of CDC's CORD 3.0 in Packaging Family Healthy Weight Programs for Real-World Impact to Address Childhood Obesity
- Testing the JOIN for ME Program in Low-Income Communities: Rhode Island CORD 3.0
- Family-Based Behavioral Treatment for Childhood Obesity Adapted to Align with the MOHealthNet Medicaid Benefit: Results of the Missouri Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration Study
- Testing Implementation Strategies for a Family Healthy Weight Program: Results From the Nebraska Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration 3.0 Pilot Trial
- Implementation and Effectiveness of the Healthy Weight Clinic Type III Hybrid Trial: Massachusetts CORD 3.0
- Considerations for Cost Assessment of Implementing Family Healthy Weight Programs Across Community and Clinical Contexts
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