AN ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE man who joined an NHS weight loss research study is encouraging others to take part in health research after seeing the benefits firsthand.
Eddie Blackshaw, 54, is among 97,308 people across the North West who took part during 2025/26 through schemes supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
He is taking part in the LightCARE study at Ashton Medical Group, which is investigating a new intensive weight loss programme and comparing it with the best advice and support already available through the NHS and in the community.
Eddie said years of struggling with his weight had affected both his physical and mental health.
“I just let my weight get out of control. At my heaviest, I thought, ‘I have to do something about this.’ I couldn’t walk for long – I had to sit down all the time,” he said.
“I tried eating healthier – salads and fish – but I’d fall back into my habits because I didn’t have that external push. I definitely needed to make a change.”
The extra weight contributed to high blood pressure and a serious knee injury, forcing Eddie to leave his physically demanding warehouse job.
He also found himself turning down invitations to socialise because he lacked the energy to go out.
After spotting the opportunity through the NHS App last year, Eddie signed up for the study at his local GP practice after meeting the eligibility criteria.
As part of the research, he attends appointments over a two-year period and has access to a range of health assessments, including body composition and bone density scans, that are not routinely available through the NHS.
Everything needed for the study is delivered to his home, while appointments take place at Ashton Medical Group with research nurses from the NIHR.
Eddie believes being able to take part close to home made all the difference.
He added: “For me, taking part at my GP was such a good thing. If I had to go into Manchester to a hospital, I’m not sure if I would have taken part.
“I would definitely encourage people to take part in research and just take a look at what’s out there. For me, it couldn’t have been better so far.”
The LightCARE study is one of 1,385 health and care studies supported by the NIHR across the Northwest over the past year.
Figures show that research is increasingly being delivered in community settings, with more than 11,400 people taking part in studies through GP practices across the region during the last year.
Dr Omair Razzaq, a GP and Principal Investigator for the LightCARE study at Ashton Medical Group, said: “The vast majority of NHS patient interactions happen in primary care, so it’s vitally important we provide as many opportunities as we can for people to access studies at their local GP practice.
“Providing research opportunities in this setting helps to bring new treatments and solutions more directly to our communities.
“It also means that participation is often more convenient and integrated into the everyday lives of patients like Eddie.”
The National Institute for Health and Care Research is encouraging more people to consider taking part in studies through its Be Part of Research service, which matches volunteers with research opportunities taking place online or close to home.