The Role of Body Composition in the Treatment of Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the gastrointestinal tract, with severe implications for quality of life. It is associated with changes to body composition such as reduced muscle mass, weight loss and increased fat inside the abdomen. These changes have prognostic implications, but little is published regarding their effects on treatments for Crohn’s disease. This work determines patient and clinician attitudes to diet and body composition, validates a method of body composition analysis, examines the role of body composition in determining post-operative outcomes, and in the metabolism and efficacy of frequently-used drugs in the treatment of Crohn’s disease.