Enhancing Nutrition and Activity in Rural Children

描述(由申请人提供)： 这位K23候选人(McGrath博士)最近晋升为堪萨斯大学医学中心儿科的初级教员职位。该奖项将为她提供必要的学术培训、指导、支持和试点信息，以发展成为儿童肥胖症的独立临床研究人员。具体目标是：1)获得针对儿童肥胖的儿童营养问题、营养评估技术和营养数据分析计划的新知识；2)获得针对儿童肥胖的运动生理学和科学的新知识；3)获得针对儿童肥胖的焦点小组方法和分析以及当前预防方法的新知识；4)获得新的科学、研究和生物统计学知识和技能；5)利用所获得的知识来开发和试点针对农村儿童的肥胖治疗干预措施；6)成为儿童肥胖领域独立的、由外部资助的调查员。为了实现这些职业目标，候选人提出了一个为期五年的培训计划，由她所在大学的相关系的强大教师指导，以及一个由全国知名儿科肥胖学者组成的科学顾问委员会。她的主要赞助人是儿科心理学领域的一位经验丰富的研究人员，他的行为研究侧重于儿科坚持药物治疗的领域。共同导师代表与拟议的职业发展和研究计划直接相关的次级专业和部门，如营养、运动生理学和预防医学。职业发展计划描述了通过以课程作业和独立学习为重点的活动来增加候选人对肥胖具体和一般研究问题的知识，并强调密集的学习机会。这项研究计划涉及两个项目。研究1将使用焦点小组评估与5-6岁农村儿童体重状况相关的因素。根据这些数据，候选人所经历的既定干预将得到加强。研究2将试行改进的干预措施，通过远程医疗降低5-6岁农村儿童超重的百分比，并将其与增强的护理条件标准进行比较。目前的项目将使候选人能够在儿童肥胖症方面开始一个成功的独立研究生涯，同时也提供关键信息来促进我们对儿童肥胖症及其治疗的理解。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The K23 candidate (Dr. McGrath) has recently advanced to a junior faculty position within the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Kansas Medical Center. This award will provide her with the scholarly training, mentorship, support and pilot information necessary to develop into an independent clinical researcher in pediatric obesity. Specific objectives are to: 1) acquire new knowledge of childhood nutrition issues, nutrition assessment techniques, and nutrition data analysis programs specific to pediatric obesity, 2) acquire new knowledge regarding exercise physiology and science specific to pediatric obesity, 3) acquire new knowledge of focus group methodology and analysis and current prevention methods specific to pediatric obesity, 4) acquire new scientific, research and biostatistical knowledge and skills, 5) use the knowledge gained to develop and pilot an intervention to treat obesity among young, rural children, 6) to become an independent, externally funded investigator in the area of pediatric obesity. To achieve these career objectives, the candidate proposes a five-year training program with strong faculty mentors from relevant departments throughout her university, as well as a scientific advisory board of nationally renowned scholars in pediatric obesity. Her primary sponsor is an experienced researcher in the field of pediatric psychology whose behavioral work has focused on the area of pediatric adherence to medical regimens. Co-mentors represent subspecialties and divisions that are directly relevant to the proposed career development and research plans, such as nutrition, exercise physiology and preventive medicine. The career development plan describes increasing the candidate's knowledge of both obesity specific and general research issues through activities focused on coursework and independent study accentuated with intense learning opportunities. The research plan involves two projects. Study 1 will assess factors related to weight status among 5-6 year old rural children using focus groups. From these data, an established intervention with which the candidate is experienced will be strengthened. Study 2 will pilot the improved intervention to decrease percent overweight among 5-6 year old rural children via telemedicine and compare it to an enhanced standard of care condition. The current project will allow the candidate to launch a successful independent research career in pediatric obesity while also providing crucial information to advance our understanding of pediatric obesity and its treatment.