Issues around eating for people with IBD

What is this research looking at? 

Food plays an important role in everyone's lives, from simply eating for energy and nutrition, to socialising or observing traditional customs. 

For people with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), the role of food can be very different than for people without the condition. Some people with IBD find that eating certain foods can trigger off painful or embarrassing symptoms. People may also find it difficult to join in on food-based social occasions, which can lead to isolation.  

This means that food has a significant impact on the quality of life of people with IBD.  As yet, no wide-ranging research has yet taken place on this issue, meaning health practitioners may not be dealing with it effectively among their patients. 

This research study aimed to investigate the impact of food in the lives of people with IBD – in particular looking at the ‘psychosocial’ impact of food.  

It was carried out by interviewing 28 people with IBD about their experiences with food, nutrition, and eating and drinking with IBD.  

The results from the interviews were used to develop and test a questionnaire to measure the food related quality of life in people with IBD.  The development of the questionnaire involved the input of over 100 people with IBD, which was then tested on 323 people with IBD.  

Conclusions: 

The interviews revealed that people with IBD often experience feelings of embarrassment, guilt, burden and disappointment around eating.  However, some people had positive comments about learning to adapt and be in control.  The findings from these interviews were then used to produce a questionnaire to be used to measure food related quality of life in people with IBD.  This questionnaire was tested, and found to be very accurate and reliable in measuring quality of life.  

What do researchers think this could mean for people with IBD? 

The researchers hope that this piece of research will encourage healthcare professionals to consider food related quality of life during clinical consultations and during research.  They also hope that this body of research will inform and encourage future studies aiming to improve food related quality of life in people with IBD. 

Who's leading the research: Dr Kevin Whelan, King's College London
Our funding: £106,449 over 12 months
Official title of the application: “Psychosocial impact of food and nutrition in the lives of people with inflammatory bowel disease.”
Tags: Food