Project Grant K01DK144643

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases awarded the Trustees of Indiana University (Indiana University Indianapolis) $158,036 in a Project Grant on August 17, 2026, under the Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.847).

The award funds development and pilot testing of four weight stigma reduction intervention components for adolescent-serving clinics, informed by lived experiences of patients and clinical leadership input. The interventions include protocols ensuring appropriately sized medical equipment (such as blood pressure cuffs), protocols for respectful and confidential patient weighing, revision of patient-facing materials to eliminate weight-stigmatizing messages and images, and weight stigma training for all clinical staff. The research addresses the finding that healthcare visits are sources of weight stigma for adolescents, despite published weight stigma reduction recommendations endorsed by 69 scientific and patient societies—recommendations not developed to meet adolescent-specific needs. The work will gather data for a future implementation-effectiveness trial designed to reduce systems-level weight stigma in clinics serving higher-weight adolescents, where experiencing weight stigma is associated with disordered eating behaviors, body dissatisfaction, substance use, self-harm, low self-esteem, depressive symptoms, and social isolation.

Performance of work is in Indianapolis, Indiana. The period of performance extends from the award date through May 31, 2031.