Severe mental illness (SMI) is described as the “scandal of premature mortality’. People with SMI are 50% more likely to be obese than the general population. There is little doubt that the complications of obesity (diabetes, heart disease, hypertension) are significant contributors to reduced mortality.

The University of York developed the Health and Wellbeing cohort (N=4000) which, has been used for the SCIMITAR project (NIHR funded £1.5m) to look at the effectiveness of a smoking cessation intervention in people with SMI. We now plan to develop a similar scale programme of research to address the issue of obesity and its management in SMI. .

Lead Academic at Lead University

Gemma Traviss-Turner Leeds Institute of Health Sciences School of Medicine University of Leeds

Lead Academics at Other Universities

Simon GilbodyHealth Sciences University of York

Scott Weich   School  Health and Related Research (ScHARR University of Sheffield

 

Other Members of Staff Associated with this project

Andrew HillHealth Sciences University of Leeds

Emily PeckhamHealth Sciences  University of York

Michelle HorspoolSheffield Health and Social Care Trust  University of Sheffield

Paul Heron Department of Health Sciences University of York

Adam Martin Health Sciences University of Leeds

Other Partners Associated with this Project

David Ekers

Honorary Visiting Professor and Nurse Consultant Tees Esk & Wear Valleys NHS Trust/University of York

Robert Copeland

Professor of Physical Activity and Health Sheffield Hallam University Centre for Sport & Exercise Science

Gary Tew

Associate Professor of Exercise and Health Sciences Northumbria University Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation4343

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