EASE-CF: A study looking at a weight loss programme for people with CF

Full title

Weight loss intervention with specialist dietitian behavioural support for people with cystic fibrosis who have excess weight

Study details

Four out of ten people with cystic fibrosis (CF) carry excess weight. It is thought that reducing excess weight is likely to be good for health in people with CF. 

This research study will try to find out if it is safe and acceptable for people with CF to follow a programme with specialist CF dietitian support to help them lose excess weight. 

Participants will be randomly placed into one of two groups. 

The standard care group: 

Participants will continue to attend their clinic appointments as normal and nothing about their care will change. 

The intervention group: 

Participants will be asked to eat three main meals per day:

1. A high protein shake or porridge (provided for free)
2. A fresh ready meal high in protein (provided for free)
3. A self-selected healthy meal from a list of options provided that you will prepare or purchase

Participants in the intervention group will be provided weekly and then fortnightly support via short video calls with a specialist dietitian.

Participants from both groups will take part in four short assessments over video call. All participants will be sent equipment to record some simple measurements at home such as weight, lung function and blood pressure and asked to complete a remote blood testing kit which needs to be posted back.

All participants will also be asked to complete short online questionnaires and will be asked how they found out about this research study during an online interview. 

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