ARC Themes
Resource Stage
Status
Health Category
Why the research is needed
Many people in the UK are living with multiple long-term health conditions (MLTCs, also known as multimorbidity), such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. The number of people with multiple conditions is expected to increase in the near future, putting a lot of pressure on the healthcare system. Excess weight is a known risk factor for many of these conditions, and managing weight can be crucial in preventing their development or further complications. However, how weight changes—whether through surgery, medication, or lifestyle interventions—affects the development of multimorbidity is still not well understood. This research aims to look at how different types of weight loss interventions affect changes in weight and how these changes impact the development of various health conditions.
What is already known about the subject
It is well-known that being overweight or obese increases the risk of developing many serious long-term health conditions. Research also suggests that weight loss can help prevent or improve some conditions, though the effectiveness varies by the type of intervention used and individual factors like age, gender, ethnicity, and current health status. Despite this, there is a gap in understanding how different types of weight changes over time affect people with multiple health conditions, particularly for different age, sex, and ethnic groups.
Who we will be working with
• Leicester Real World Evidence Unit
• Leicester Diabetes Centre (LDC)
• Centre for Ethnic Health Research (CEHR)
How patients and the public are involved
We will work with LDC and CEHR’s dedicated team for Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) to form a panel of patients and community members who can provide their perspectives and feedback on our preliminary findings. This group will help us by sharing their experiences and advising on the study’s design, interpretation, and communication of findings, so the research stays relevant and accessible to those who may benefit from it.
What we will do
Using anonymised data United Kingdom primary care, we will examine how weight changes over time in people with multiple health conditions. We will study different types of weight loss interventions and look at their effects on weight and on the development or worsening of health conditions. We will also look at how factors like age, sex, and ethnicity might influence these patterns.
What the benefits will be
The findings will potentially help healthcare providers understand which types of weight loss interventions work best for people with different backgrounds and health conditions. This can lead to more personalised care, where people receive the right type of support to manage their weight and health conditions effectively.
When the findings will be available
We expect the findings to be available from March 2025.
How we are planning for implementation
We will use plain summaries, reports, visual resources, and recommendations for healthcare professionals to ensure the study’s insights can be applied in real-world settings. PPIE groups will also help share the study results by choosing important messages and the best ways to communicate them.
Contact
Dr Sharmin Shabnam, Research Fellow in Data Science, University of Leicester, ss1279@leicester.ac.uk.