# POPULATION-BASED STUDY OF OBESITY IN ADOLESCENTS

> **NIH NIH K11** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 1994 · $91,514

## Abstract

The immediate goal of this application is to provide the applicant
trainee (Amy Levine, M.D.) with training in nutritional epidemiology and
behavioral science.  This training will lead to her obtaining a PhD
degree in the Department of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health
of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  The applicant's
long-term objective is to pursue a research career in the study of
obesity, a major public health problem.  Training in epidemiology will
provide a rigorous methodologic base for the performance of quality
research in populations.  Training in behavioral science will provide a
framework for studying behavioral causes and consequences of obesity.  It
will also allow the trainee eventually to develop and evaluate sound,
theoretically-based community intervention strategies.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will provide an rich
environment for supporting research career development in nutritional
epidemiology and behavioral science.  The School of Public Health has
strong departments of Epidemiology, Health Behavior and Health Education,
and Nutrition, with a tradition of multidisciplinary research and
collaboration.  The departments of Epidemiology and Nutrition are jointly
recruiting a senior faculty member in nutritional epidemiology to
strengthen their research capability in this field.  They are also
co-developing an academic track in nutritional epidemiology for trainees.
Also on campus is the NIH-funded Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and
Disease.  Center membership is made up of researchers from a variety of
disciplines.  Nutritional epidemiology represents one of the major
research areas of the Center.

The research proposed is a longitudinal study of weight loss behaviors in
adolescents.  A cohort of 9-llth graders will be followed for two school
years.  The aim of the study is (1) to follow the natural progression of
weight loss behaviors over time and (2) to identify factors associated
with weight loss behaviors.  These factors will include sociodemographic
variables, including race, sex, socioeconomic status, and weight status,
and also attitudes, norms, and perceived control over weight loss
behaviors, according to Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behavior.  This theory
has been shown to have predictive and explanatory power in describing a
number of volitional behaviors, including weight loss.

Subjects will be administered a questionnaire at baseline, then
periodically throughout the study to measure sociodemographic
characteristics, elements of the Theory of Planned Behavior, and weight
loss behaviors.   Weights, heights, and triceps skinfold measures will
also be obtained, both to identify obese subjects and to assess the
relationships of weight loss behaviors with actual weight change.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2194534
- **Project number:** 5K11HD001012-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **SAM.gov UEI:** D3LHU66KBLD5
- **Principal Investigator:** AMY A LEVINE
- **Activity code:** K11 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1994
- **Award amount:** $91,514
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1992-07-15 → 1997-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2194534

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2194534, POPULATION-BASED STUDY OF OBESITY IN ADOLESCENTS (5K11HD001012-03). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2194534. Licensed CC0.

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