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NIHR: More research needed for obesity treatments
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More clinical research is needed to address the underlying causes of obesity in adults and children and to work toward effective treatments, according to a press release from the National Institute for Health Research.
The NIHR, the research arm of the British NHS, has issued a national call for new research to address UK obesity levels with the goal of finding new interventions or services aimed at preventing and treating the disease, which often leads to type 2 diabetes.
"We've talked about the benefits of a healthy diet and regular exercise for a long time,” Jonathan Sheffield, MD, CEO of the NIHR Clinical Research Network, said in a press release. “While the message is clear, increasing levels of obesity show it is not having the positive impact society needs.”
The NIHR and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) have awarded jointly funded research grants of £20 million since 2013, focused on improving quality of life for people with dementia and their caregivers, which now represents the world's largest social science research program on dementia and care. This year's theme of obesity is expected to attract high levels of interest from researchers across the country, Sheffield said.
"People need more options,” Sheffield said. “Clinical research plays a vital role in developing better and more cost-effective treatments for people who are obese. Crucially, it also looks at the reasons for weight gain, which can help us address long-term solutions for the causes and development of the condition."
More information on the initiative is available at www.crn.nihr.ac.uk/bigchallenge.