Study launched to investigate diet treatment for long COVID

Researchers from the University of Glasgow have been awarded £1 million from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to investigate weight loss treatment for long COVID. The multi-disciplinary research team, led by Dr Emilie Combet and Dr David Blane, will lead the Remote Diet Intervention to REduce long Covid symptoms Trial (ReDIRECT) to test whether a well-established weight management programme, delivered and supported entirely remotely, can improve symptoms for people with long COVID and overweight/obesity. ReDIRECT is one of 15 new studies across UK to expand research that will support thousands of vulnerable people and those affected by COVID. Funded by NIHR, the study shares in almost £20 million for research projects, that will ultimately help improve understanding of long COVID and identify effective treatments Around 10% of people infected with COVID-19 have symptoms for 12 weeks or longer (long COVID). There are, as yet, no established treatments for people living with long COVID. Weight management programmes in adults with overweight /obesity can reduce symptoms such as fatigue, breathlessness and pains, which are also common with long COVID. However, researchers do not know how effective intentional weight loss is to reduce these symptoms for overweight people with long COVID.