How obesity affects the risk of diverticulitis
A prospective cohort study to determine the role of obesity in diverticulitis
This project looks at whether obesity and metabolic syndrome raise the chance of developing diverticulitis, especially in postmenopausal women.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11325772 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be followed over time while researchers track body fat patterns, metabolic markers, hormone use, and medical events to see who develops diverticulitis. The team will compare people with abdominal/visceral obesity and metabolic syndrome to those without to see if metabolic changes explain higher diverticulitis rates. They will use medical records, measurements of fat distribution, blood tests, and active follow-up to capture diagnoses and timing of diverticulitis. Results may point to existing treatments or lifestyle changes that could reduce future diverticulitis risk.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults without prior diverticulitis—particularly postmenopausal women or people with obesity or metabolic syndrome—who can be followed over time.
Not a fit: People with an active diverticulitis attack looking for immediate treatment would not receive direct clinical benefit from this observational project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to prevention strategies that lower diverticulitis risk by treating metabolic syndrome or reducing abdominal fat.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has linked higher body weight to more diverticulitis, but testing metabolic syndrome and abdominal fat as the main explanation is a newer direction.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Peery, Anne — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Peery, Anne
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.