New research projects

We are currently working with the University of Surrey on a number of different research initiatives, including sponsoring a PhD studentship to investigate the effects of intermittent fasting (using our LighterLife Fast plan) on weight loss and cardiovascular disease-risk markers. As part of this project we will be assessing changes in vascular health, hunger hormones, insulin resistance, resting energy expenditure, oxidative stress and much more. This project started in October 2013 and will run over three years. We will also be looking at changes in dietary patterns in thousands of our successful weight-management clients to ascertain the specific changes made by those who successfully keep their weight off.

The Rotherham Institute of Obesity is a unique specialist centre for the management of weight problems with a multidisciplinary approach to reducing weight and maintaining that loss. RIO brings together all the NHS approved and evidence-based methods for weight loss into one primary care-based centre. We are currently sponsoring a study with RIO to assess the comparative effects of intermittent (ie 5:2) fasting vs continuous energy restriction on changes in weight, body measurements and other cardiometabolic disease-risk markers in a selected group of obese NHS weight-loss patients.

We are helping to provide recruitment support for a study with the University of Newcastle, which is piloting a weight-loss maintenance programme using digital technology for initially obese adults after clinically significant weight loss. We will also be working with the university on a number of additional research initiatives, including studies investigating the psychological aspects of adherence to VLCD approaches and on weight-loss maintenance in both healthy people and those with type 2 diabetes.

Our recently agreed plan of research with academics in the Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences Division, School of Medicine at Kings College London includes a clinical-intervention study investigating the nature of the changes in heart-rate variability after short-term weight loss using a VLCD. Data already published indicates that a VLCD may actually help improve heart rate variability, but evidence is very limited, so our aim is to increase the knowledge base in this area.

We are supporting MSc research being undertaken at the University of South Wales which is investigating the relationship between the use of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) tools and effective weight management by our Management clients.

If you’re interested in finding out more about any of LighterLife’s research projects, or would like to put yourself forward as a research case study, please email researchgroup@lighterlife.com