Fenland Study Phase 1: 2005 – 2015

Recruitment to the first phase of the Fenland Study finished at the beginning of 2015. 12,435 people from across Cambridgeshire took part in this phase of the Fenland Study, and the scale and depth of information collected constitutes an important resource for public health research. Few previous studies have combined detailed genetic profiles with objective clinical measurements such as resting metabolic rate, cardio-respiratory fitness, physical activity energy expenditure or body composition, and none on the scale of the Fenland Study.

Analysis of the data collected in Phase 1 is underway, and is contributing to investigations of how genes and lifestyle influence metabolic factors such as glucose and insulin levels in the blood, and how this in turn relates to the development of diseases such as type 2 diabetes. By overlaying additional information from external sources we can also study the effect of the wider environment on health. For example, we have been able to use the Fenland Study to investigate how proximity to fast food outlets influences the risk of obesity.

This knowledge gained from Phase 1 of the Fenland Study will inform future strategies for the prevention and management of obesity, type 2 diabetes and related metabolic disorders.

We would like to thank the thousands of volunteers who participated in the Fenland Study over the past decade. By participating they have already made a huge contribution to medical research, and hope that they will be able to join us again for Phase 3 of the study.