The Fenland Study investigates the interaction between environmental and genetic factors in determining obesity, type 2 diabetes, and related metabolic disorders. These conditions are a considerable public health concern, but their causes and factors that predict who will be affected by them are not completely understood.
What makes the Fenland Study unique is the level of detail it collects about the health and lifestyle of participants, and the objective measurement techniques used in the screening.
Phase was launched in 2023, and finished in 2025. For Fenland 3 we introduced a bespoke Fenland Study app that participants used to complete questionnaires and some measurements digitally at their own convenience in their own homes before the clinic visit.
The Fenland COVID-19 study (2020 - 2021) measured levels of Covid infection in the Fenland cohort, investigated early detection, and explored the wider health impacts of the pandemic.
The Fenland Remote Assessment Study started in 2025, and a representative group of participants from Phase 3 of the Fenland Study will be invited to take part. The aim of the study is to enhance the information about health behaviours and exposures through remote assessment of physical activity, fitness and their environmental context in free-living over a 1-month period.
The Fenland Study has been invited to take part in the UK Longitudinal Linkage Collaboration (UK LLC), which is bringing together information from longitudinal study volunteers with their routine records in a secure way. Over 20 longitudinal studies are taking part in this collaboration.
