This trial is examining a redesign of primary care treatment for adolescent with class I obesity. This 6-month intervention will enhance standard in-person primary care with innovative direct-to-patient video telehealth visits that includes behavioral counseling and exercise videos tailored to the participant’s home and family context. The study is designed to meet the American Academy of Pediatrics Clinical Guidelines of 26 contact hours of intensive health behavior lifestyle treatment. Study aims include evaluating the efficacy of the treatment on: 1) adolescent body mass index (BMI) reductions and 2) adolescent dietary intake and physical activity and examining the relation between treatment dose and BMI reductions.
Funder: National Institutes of Health
MPI: Melanie Bean, PhD; Shari Barkin, MD
Collaborators: Edmond Wickham, MD; Roy Sabo, PhD; Alyssa Button, PhD; Hollie Raynor, PhD

This grant sustains the Healthy Lifestyles Center Research Lab.
Funder: Children’s Hospital Foundation
Melanie Bean, PhD; Edmond Wickham, MD

Hydrate is a stepped wedge cluster randomized controlled trial (SW-CRT) designed collaboratively with key stakeholders to increase children’s water intake and access at school, and includes social marketing, behavioral reinforcement, and education and outreach. Twelve Central Virginia public schools are participating in this program over three school years (2024-25, 2025-26, and 2026-27) with 4 schools receiving the intervention each year. Data is collected from all schools each school year so that we can see how the intervention is impacting water station usage, body mass index, dental caries, water bottle use, beverage selection and intake, and academic outcomes.
Funder: National Institutes of Health
MPI: Melanie Bean, PhD; Tegwyn Brickhouse, DDS, PhD
Collaborators: Jessica LaRose, PhD; Sonya Hung, PhD; Roy Sabo, PhD; Alyssa Button, PhD; Alisa Brewer, MSPH

The Real-World Adolescent Eating Patterns (REAL) study is a mixed-methods study for adolescents (12-16 years old) that uses online surveys, ecological momentary assessment, and semi-structured interviews to phenotype adolescent eating patterns. Findings will inform innovative and adaptive assessment and intervention approaches (e.g., just-in-time adaptive interventions) to promote healthy eating behaviors for adolescents with higher weight.
Funder: Children’s Hospital Foundation
PI: Katlyn Garr, PhD
Collaborators: Melanie Bean, PhD; Stephanie Goldstein, PhD

This pilot 2x4 repeated measures randomized clinical trial (RCT) is testing the efficacy of an enhanced transition preparation program designed to improve diabetes self-management and glycemic control in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with type 1 diabetes (T1D). This NIH-funded transition preparation program supports AYAs as they prepare to transition from pediatric to adult endocrinology medical care and includes participation of caregivers and medical providers.
Funder: National Institutes of Health
PI: Laura Caccavale, PhD;
Collaborators: Melanie Bean, PhD; Randi Streisand, PhD; Jessica LaRose, PhD; Marisa Hilliard, PhD; Edmond Wickham, MD; Laura Thornton, PhD

MPI: Melanie Bean, PhD; Suzanne Mazzeo, PhD