This award is offered by the NOF in partnership with Weight Watchers. It is
designed to help busy practitioners bring their research ideas, in the field of
weight loss, to life. Juliet Miller, a community dietitian from Angus Scotland won
the first Research Award in 2007.  
 

With the help of an experienced research mentor (supplied as part of the award
package) Juliet has designed a study to pilot a telephone support line for her
patients struggling to keep their weight down. Her proposal is innovative, but
grounded in ‘hands on’ practical insight. She said “Research has shown that
patients trying to lose weight or maintain weight loss do better with regular
support. Once patients are discharged from our service there is no current NHS
support. We wanted to test whether support from dietitians over the telephone is
workable and if it motivates patients to take responsibility for monitoring their own
weight and waist measurements to improve long term weight management”.  
 
Since receiving the award in October she has been busy working on the detailed
plans for the study and getting her submission ready for the local ethics
committee. Recruitment of 100 patients is due to start this spring and the
telephone support line will be piloted for 6 months. Juliet said “It has been an
incredibly steep learning curve, but everybody I have approached in Tayside has
been enthusiastic in giving their time and help. This award has really opened the
door for me into research”
 
Details of the 2008 Research Award will appear on NOF's website on the 1st
March.