The goal of the Healthy Weight Research Network is to build research capacity that will accelerate the pace of research achieved by the creation and fulfillment of a consensus-driven research agenda. The network has developed a research agenda to promote healthy weight in children with ASD/DD, addressing the needs of underrepresented and underserved populations. Network activities include:
- conducting research using existing population-based datasets and/or health records to improve knowledge about the key risk factors and weight-related chronic and secondary health conditions among children and youth with ASD/DD;
- engaging in formative work with the aim of understanding the biopsychosocial barriers to health-related behaviors;
- identifying effective approaches and/or conducting efficacy, feasibility and/or acceptability studies of interventions designed to promote healthy weight among children and youth with ASD/DD;
- developing collaborative relationships to leverage additional sources of support to conduct research that fulfills the aims of the HWRN research agenda.
The HWRN’s research agenda includes a focus on:
- Eating patterns, eating behaviors, and family practices around food/mealtimes
- Physical activity and sedentary behavior patterns and their relation to weight status
- The influence of school and community–based organizations on children’s food intake and physical activity, and how these environments may be modified to promote healthy weight in youth
- Prevention or intervention programs and/or systems of care that can be developed, adapted, and delivered in order to be responsive to the needs of youth with ASD/DD and yield the most positive outcomes possible
- The characteristics, experiences, and/or priorities of individuals with ASD/DD and their families, and how these factors may influence or inform the maintenance of a healthy weight
- The development and/or assessment of dietary, physical activity, and other relevant health-related measures for use in research with children and youth with ASD/DD
