Welcome to the Fenland Study
Thank you for your interest in this study.
What is the study about?
This is a population-based study into lifestyle and health. The study will investigate the influence of diet, lifestyle and genetic factors on the development of diabetes and obesity.
Who is doing this study?
The Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit is carrying out the study. The MRC is funded by the UK government and is the major national organisation that supports high quality medical research with the aim of improving human health. The study is also funded by the Wellcome Trust, which is an independent charity funding research to improve health.
Who will be invited to take part?
We plan to recruit 5000 people in the next 5 years. These people will be from the general population in the East Cambridgeshire and Fenland area and will be born between 1950 and 1975. If you have received an invitation we hope that you will consider taking part!
Any questions?
If you have questions please contact us and we will get back to you! Contact us: fenlandstudy@mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk
Study office address
MRC Epidemiology UnitElsie Widdowson Lab
120 Fulbourn Road
Cambridge CB1 9NL
The free phone office number: 0800 085 6183
The Study information sheet is sent to all people who are invited to take part. It explains why we are doing the study and what is involved if you decide to take part.
If you decide to take part we will contact you to fix an appointment. When we send you a letter to confirm the appointment we will send you some instructions [pdf] so you know where to go, and what will happen when you get there and there are suggestions as to what to wear for ease during the visit.
Location of the testing site at Ely
The tests are carried out in a single visit at our testing unit in the Princess of Wales hospital in Ely. The parking is free and there are buses from the town centre to the hospital. If you have difficulties in making the journey do contact us and we will do our best to help. We will offer to pay your travel costs.
Screening Report
If you decide to take part in this study you will be contributing to important medical research. The tests will also be of benefit to you as an individual as we will inform your GP of the measurements we take. We will also send a report[pdf] to each volunteer on their body composition and fitness and activity as measured during the 6 days following their visit. This report will include information to link individual results with population data.
Useful links for more information
These are a few website addresses that will give you more information
MRC
MRC Epidemiology Unit
The Association for the study of obesity
The British Nutrition Foundation
The International Association for the Study of Obesity
The World Health Organisation
