Exploring Diet Quality in CF Enablers and barriers to eating a healthy diet in CF
D
r Audrey Tierney, a Senior Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Limerick was awarded a grant by the Health Research Board (HRB) and the Health Research Charities of Ireland (HRCI) with Cystic Fibrosis Ireland for a project called ‘Exploring diet quality in Cystic Fibrosis – enablers and barriers to eating a healthy diet in CF’. We know that a diet high in energy and fat has typically been advised to people with CF to reach weight or body mass index (BMI) goals because of the relationship between BMI and lung function. Often times these diets tend to be higher in saturated fat, sugar and salt and lack essential nutrients. Whilst studies in this area have documented nutrient intakes (e.g. energy, fat, carbohydrates, protein), there is a lack of data on overall diet quality, especially in adults with CF (i.e. meeting food groups, getting sufficient vitamin intakes etc). In addition, no study has addressed the drivers and barriers to eating a healthy diet for people with CF. Audrey and the team at University of Limerick are aiming to explore more about the diets that people with CF living in Ireland consume on a day-to-day basis, look at the overall quality of the diets and investigate the impact that the diet has on CF and on quality of life. Any person with CF (older than 18 years) can participate in the study What will the study involve: • Completing a food diary and some questionnaires (can be completed online or paper-based, whatever suits best)
UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK AND CYSTIC FIBROSIS IRELAND
EXPLORING DIET QUALITY IN CYSTIC FIBROSIS (CF) What do adults with CF eat and drink? Does diet impact on symptoms and quality of life? What are the barriers in CF to eating a healthy diet?
• Online focus groups will be run to talk about what influences people with CF with their eating habits or their diets and food practices. This is an optional component of the study.
W E A R E A I DIET M I N G TQUALITY O E X P L O R E IN THE SE EXPLORING CYSTIC Q U E S T I O N SFIBROSIS T O B E T T E R(CF) INFORM THIS
This baseline information will then inform future interventions to assess the effects of a ‘healthier’ type diet in CF (for example, a Mediterranean-type diet) on some measures like BMI, lung function, inflammatory markers and quality of life to assess if energy and nutrient requirements can be met in a way that the quality of the diet is also achieved.
if Wyou E want A RtoE find A Iout M more I N GorTtoOcheck E Xyour P Leligibility O R E Tyou H Ecan SE email Q U EAudrey S T I OTierney, N S TDietitian OcallB or E and T TPrinciple E R I NInvestigator FORM THIS A R Eaudrey.tierney@ul.ie A OF PRACTICE
UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK AND CYSTIC FIBROSIS IRELAND
AREA OF PRACTICE What do adults with CF eat and drink? IF YOU ARE 18 YEARS OR OLDER WITH Does diet impact on symptoms and quality of life? CYSTIC FIBROSIS AND INTERESTED IN toDeating healthy P AWhat R T I Care I P Ithe N G barriers I N T H Iin S CF STU Y W EaW OULD L O V E T O H Ediet? AR FROM YOU
086 8652977
IF YOU ARE 18 YEARS OR OLDER WITH CYSTIC FIBROSIS AND INTERESTED IN PARTICIPING IN THIS STUDY WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU
If you wish to get involved, or would like more information, please contact Audrey:
if you want to find out more or to check your eligibility you can
Email:
audrey.tierney@ul.ie
call or email Phone /Audrey Text: Tierney,086 865 2977 Dietitian and Principle Investigator
Twitter:
@AudreyTierney
Instagram:
audrey.tierney@ul.ie
086 8652977 @audreytierney
Details of the study are also available on the CFI website
www.cfireland.ie
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