The impact of obesity in women or members with diverse identity factors in the Canadian Armed Forces

Funding opportunity

Researchers are invited to apply for a new grant funding opportunity sponsored by Canadian Forces Health Services (CFHS) Women and Diversity Health program (WDH) regarding the impact of obesity in women and members with diverse identity factors in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). This research will enable WDH to better understand the operational and health impacts of obesity in these equity-deserving populations, along with the potential impact of medical management, either pharmacological or surgical, or both. This research will be carried out in three distinct sub-component Projects, to address the large number of research questions and objectives, as described below. The funds may be allocated to one or more research teams, based on the proposals received.

Anticipated timeline and budget

Background:

Women and diverse populations have historically been underrepresented in medical research, and this has limited our knowledge of their unique health needs, including health risks, prevention, and treatment options. For these reasons, CFHS established the WDH program. The program aims to optimize prevention and care for women and members with diversity factors, using an intersectional lens, to improve their physical, mental and psychosocial wellbeing. This is aligned with governmental priorities and current shifts in research.

Since its inception in 2022, the WDH program has focused on establishing relationships with stakeholders and partners to identify collaborative opportunities and minimize duplication of effort, as well as to identify opportunities for high priority research. This funding opportunity builds on past research funding awarded to address the gaps in knowledge related to the health of women and members with diverse identity factors.

According to recent prevalence estimates, approximately one third of female CAF members may be living with obesity (the term female is used to indicate a person whose sex is female). It is well-established that obesity can have adverse impacts on health; however, the occupational and operational impact for women and diverse members has not been explored. This is of particular relevance given the recent availability of GLP-1 receptor agonists as a potential management modality for obesity.

Research objectives

This funding opportunity has the following objectives, listed as three separate Projects below, likely to be carried out through a series of scoping reviews. For the Projects listed below, while the funding opportunity indicates female as the variable in question, researchers are encouraged to apply an intersectional lens to determine other factors which could be involved in these relationships. For research relating to GLP-1 receptor agonists, engagement with pharmaceutical companies to access recent available data is recommended.

1. Obesity, Musculoskeletal Injury (MSKI), and Return to Duty Project: (up to $70,000)
   1. What is the impact of obesity on musculoskeletal conditions including joint, muscle, tendon and ligamentous injuries in females compared to males?
   2. When MSKI occurs, does obesity impact recovery and return to duty? Does this differ for females compared to males?
   3. Is there evidence to support a threshold weight loss (i.e. % of body mass weight change, change in body composition) that confers protection for MSKI or reinjury or supports faster recovery in females?
2. Obesity and Female Health Project: (up to $70,000)
   1. What is the impact of weight loss on female-specific diagnoses such as, but not limited to, breast cancer, endometrial cancer, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), fertility, dysmenorrhea, menopausal symptoms? Can a weight loss threshold be identified for improvement?
   2. What is known about the operational impact of these conditions on the CAF or other similar militaries?
3. Treatments for Obesity in Females and CAF Members with Diverse Identity Factors Project: (up to $70,000)
   1. What is the evidence regarding the impact of i) pharmacotherapy and ii) surgery for weight loss in these populations? Are there established criteria for these sub-populations for initiating surgical or pharmaceutical interventions for obesity?  Is there evidence to support different criteria with regards to age, gender, ethnicity or other identity factors?
   2. Are there risks of treatments that differ by sex, gender, age, life stage, or other identity factors?
   3. What considerations should be made with respect to continuing these treatments in an austere environment?

Desired outputs

• A research study addressing one or more of the Project Questions identified above, in the form of a report. Each report should include an Executive Summary, Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Data analysis, Results, Discussion and References. Research teams are encouraged to publish their results in peer-reviewed academic journals. Any funds needed for publication should be accounted for in the budget. Literature reviews should follow appropriate guidelines and checklists (e.g. PRISMA, PRISMA-ScR)
• The report should address the following objectives:
  1. Answering at least one of the Project questions outlined under Research Objectives. A research team can select one or more of the Projects identified above to address in their proposal. Each Project will be funded up to a maximum of $70,000.
  2. Based on the results and findings, provide recommendations that can be implemented by CFHS for the Project(s) selected.
• Include a knowledge translation or knowledge transfer component.
• SAGER guidelines followed, with a detailed description of GBA+ considerations.
• Virtual presentation of findings to project sponsor (may take place after the project end date).
• Quarterly progress reports provided to the D WDH.

Applicant qualifications and requirements

• Principal investigator (PI) must have a PhD or MD in a relevant field.
• All appropriate academic research guidelines must be followed, including a research ethics board approval from an accredited academic institution in Canada prior to funding being issued if applicable to the method(s) selected.
• Additional internal DND/CFHS approval will be required for research involving CAF members. A CFHS point of contact will be provided to facilitate this process once the research proposals are selected.
• All reports, publications, and presentations from this funding opportunity are required to acknowledge that the research was carried out in response to a Funding Opportunity developed and funded by the CFHS WDH.

Application deadline

Please download and submit the Research Funding Application form.

Applicants are advised to include eight weeks of administrative lead-time in their timelines. This will allow for ethics board submission and approval (if required), and the drafting and signing of the funding agreement.

Enquiries

Questions about this funding opportunity can be sent to the VAC Research office.