One in five children and one in three adults are considered obese in the United States.

The University of Rochester Medical Center is joining researchers from three other medical research organizations as part of a new $13.9 million dollar childhood obesity study.

The study is funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) and aims to help overweight parents lose weight themselves while assisting with their child’s nutrition and physical activity goals.

“While tracking the child’s behavior, we also work on setting goals for the parents as well,” said Stephen Cook, M.D., Associate Professor of Pediatrics at URMC. 

The team will work directly with pediatricians to provide family-based treatments.

Local researchers will receive $3.1 million as part of the national effort.