Glasgow Uni scores £1M to research diet interventions for long COVID-19

26 Jul 2021 --- The University of Glasgow has landed £1 million (US$1.38 million) for research on weight loss treatment for long COVID-19 from the UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).

Around 10 percent of people infected with COVID-19 have symptoms for 12 weeks or longer, which is known as “long COVID.” There are, as yet, no established treatments for people living with long COVID.

“People with long COVID-19 who are overweight or obese compared to the rest of the population may have worse symptoms,” notes Dr. Emilie Combet, senior lecturer in Nutrition, who will also lead the study.

Obesity is linked to negative COVID-19 outcomes, with a Public Health England (PHE) data review establishing a significant relationship between weight-related comorbidities and COVID-19 mortality in the UK.

Long-term solution to long COVID-19
The multi-disciplinary research team will test whether a well-established weight management program, delivered and supported entirely remotely, can improve symptoms for people with long COVID-19 and overweight or obesity. 

The project has been dubbed Remote Diet Intervention to Reduce long Covid symptoms Trial (ReDIRECT).

Around 10 percent of people infected with COVID-19 have symptoms for 12 weeks or longer.

According to Professor Nick Lemoine, chair of NIHR’s long COVID-19 funding committee and medical director of the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN), this package of research will provide much-needed hope to people with long-term health problems after COVID-19.

“It will accelerate the development of new ways to diagnose and treat long COVID-19, as well as how to configure healthcare services to provide the absolute best care. Together with our earlier round of funding, NIHR has invested millions into research covering the full gamut of causes, mechanisms, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of long COVID.”

Improving long COVID-19 treatment
The study’s funding comes from an almost £20 million (US$27.6 million) fund for research projects that will ultimately help improve understanding of long COVID-19 and identify effective treatments.

Weight management programs for adults who are overweight or obese can reduce symptoms such as fatigue, breathlessness and pains, which are also common with long COVID, the researchers say.

However, it is not known how effective intentional weight loss is in reducing these symptoms for overweight people with long COVID.

Dr. David Blane, clinical research fellow in General Practice & Primary Care, also leading the study, says that people with long COVID are frustrated by the lack of treatment and support options currently available.

Remote testing
The research team will work closely with overweight people who are experiencing long COVID-19 to adapt and evaluate the weight management program, which can be followed remotely from home.

A trial will be conducted with 200 people, identified through their GP, patient and community groups. 

People with long COVID-19 who are overweight or obese may experience severe symptoms.A key feature of the trial is its focus on patient-selected key health outcomes, recognizing the broad range of long COVID-19 symptoms identified by patients.

Half of the participants will receive the personalized, professionally-supported weight management program, while the other half will receive conventional care. 

The goal is to compare long COVID-19 symptoms, weight loss, quality of life and value for money after six months. 

The control group will also receive the intervention after a six-month delay. Experiences of both groups will be documented for 12 months.

Tackling Type 2
The researchers will also work with Counterweight, which is the UK’s “only clinically proven Type 2 diabetes remission program.”

“We are happy to be collaborating with the University of Glasgow on this important research project, as obesity and Type 2 diabetes have been shown to elevate the risks of hospitalization and mortality due to COVID-19 infection,” says Laura Sloman, chief operating officer of Counterweight. 

“Our Counterweight-Plus program has been widely used by people looking to lose weight and achieve diabetes remission in order to reduce this risk. Now we have the opportunity to investigate how following the program may also improve recovery from long-COVID for those living with overweight and obesity.”

UK moves again obesity and COVID-19
Due to mounting pressure for concrete action against obesity – which has been linked to worse COVID-19 outcomes – the UK government created a “joined-up” National Food Strategy. 

According to new figures from 2019/20 published by NHS Digital, obesity was a factor in more than one million admissions to UK National Health Service (NHS) hospitals last year. 

The UK Department of Health and Social Care previously revealed a raft of measures as part of its anti-obesity strategy to tackle COVID-19. The campaign seeks to encourage those currently overweight to lose 2.5 kg, claiming it “could save the NHS £105 million (US$135 million) over the next five years, and improve people’s lives and overall well-being.” 

By Kristiana Lalou