Patterns of eating behaviours and liver disease
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Defining patterns of eating behaviours and their association with obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
IRAS ID
302476
Contact name
Thomas Pembroke
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cardiff and Vale UHB
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
In Wales 61% of adults are classed as overweight or obese, including 25% living with obesity or severe obesity or morbidly obese (Welsh Government, 2020). Obesity is associated with a range of medical conditions including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The incidence of NAFLD has increased 10-fold between 1999 and 2019 and is now the predominant cause of chronic liver disease in Wales. High glycaemic index foods and, in particular high fructose corn syrups, are associated with NAFLD and the progression of an inflammatory state leading to fibrosis, liver failure and liver cancer (Jensen et al., 2018).
Dietary habits are associated with the development of obesity (Konttinen H et al 2019, Konttinen H. 2020). Potentially pathological dietary habits include cognitive restraint, emotional eating, and uncontrolled eating (van Strien and Ouwens. 2007), each of these habits may require an alternative management approach. It remains unclear if these dietary patterns are associated with increased risk of disease of obesity or disease. Categorising at risk individuals by dietary habit may identify specific patterns of those at increased risk of obesity and end organ damage including NAFLD. Validated questionnaires have been developed to identify individuals with specific patterns of dietary habit (Karlsson et al. 2000; Wilkinson et al., 2018). Better understanding of the prevalence of dietary habits in NAFLD and the association with fibrosis and cirrhosis may uncover key interventions targets for this group of individuals.
Research question: Are pathological eating behaviours more prevalent in individuals living with obesity and NAFLD than in those living without these conditions?
Hypothesis: Harmful dietary patterns are associated with NAFLD and liver fibrosis
Objectives:
1) To investigate the frequency of potentially pathological eating habits in people living with obesity with and without non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
2) To investigate if there a correlation between BMI and specific dietary pattern.
3) To investigate if there is a correlation severity of liver disease and dietary pattern.This is a study which will provide preliminary data to drive further research in this under-investigated topic.
Potential impact of outcome: This is a study which will provide preliminary data to drive further research in this severely under-investigated topic. The main outcome will be to better understanding of the prevalence of eating behaviours in obesity and NAFLD and therefore the association with fibrosis and cirrhosis. This may uncover key intervention targets for this group of individuals.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/NW/0103
Date of REC Opinion
24 Mar 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion