What is the fuss about the IBDeat study?

If you have not yet completed the survey, please consider clicking here https://redcap.link/IBDeat

Jia, the study investigator and PhD student at the University of Otago, shares some frequently asked participant questions and initial findings from the study so far.

Why are you doing this study?

This is the most asked question! The aim of the IBDeat study is to find out how living with IBD affects many aspects of life. This study enables you to share how IBD influences your lifestyle, habits (e.g., smoking, diet and exercise), quality of life and IBD symptoms.

Why are you collecting physical measures only in Dunedin?

We are only collecting physical measurements in Dunedin because I am based in Dunedin. I would love to travel around New Zealand in the name of ‘research’ but unfortunately COVID-19 would not let me. If you live in or can travel to Dunedin, we would love to have you contribute to this aspect of the study. The physical appointment takes 10 minutes where we measure weight, height, waist and hip circumference, blood pressure, arm muscle strength, fat mass and muscle mass; and we ask for a blood and stool sample to measure lipids, nutrition markers (vitamin B12, D, folate, and iron level), CRP, full blood count, liver function tests, and faecal calprotectin.

What have you found so far?

The initial results suggest that 70% of people living with IBD find that their IBD limits them from being as active as they would like. But they may alter the type of activity they try to do in order to maximise their activity. Many people reported having trigger foods that they avoid. Trigger foods were common from all the main food groups: fruit and vegetables, meat, legumes and nuts, grains and dairy products. Avoidance of particular foods meant that only 10% of people regularly ate 5+ of fruits and vegetables a day, 30% achieved the recommended 1000mg/day of calcium, and only 50% ate at least 25g/day of dietary fibre.

I believe that research is a platform to share information from which we can all benefit and ultimately improve treatments and quality of life for those living with IBD. Thank you for your contributions to the IBDeat study so far. We would really like to learn more from the IBD community. It’s not too late to take part in the survey! https://redcap.link/IBDeat