LC describes the long-term effects of a COVID-19 infection, with symptoms such as fatigue,
breathlessness, and cognitive dysfunction persisting for≥ 3 months. Overweight/obesity is
associated with increased risk of LC (2), however the pathophysiology remains unclear. One
proposed mechanism is persistent inflammation following the initial infection. Pre-pandemic
findings have shown that weight loss can improve inflammatory status, however, dietary
strategies to manage LC lack a solid evidence-base. ReDIRECT assesses whether a …

Methods: Baseline randomised, non-blinded design with 240 participants allocated in a 1: 1
ratio either to continue usual care or to add the remotely delivered Counterweight-Plus
weight management programme, which includes a Counterweight dietitian supported
delivery of 12 weeks total diet replacement, food reintroduction, and long-term weight loss
maintenance. Randomisation is achieved by accessing a web-based randomisation system
incorporated into the study web portal developed by a registered Clinical Trials Unit. We are …