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Contact information


dimitrios.koutoukidis@phc.ox.ac.uk


+44 (0)1865 617767

Current clinical trials

CARE - Weight loss before bowel cancer surgery

ENDO-CARE - Weight loss before endometrial cancer surgery

Dimitrios Koutoukidis

RD PhD MSc AFHEA

Associate Professor

  • NIHR Advanced Fellow
  • NIHR Oxford BRC Senior Research Fellow

Diet, Obesity, and Behavioural Sciences

I am a clinical academic dietitian and trialist and my research focuses on intentional weight loss as a therapeutic and preventive strategy for obesity-related diseases, particularly cancer.

My research has generated rigorous evidence addressing long-standing uncertainty about the role of intentional weight loss in selected obesity-related disease areas. It has demonstrated that structured weight loss interventions can be safe, clinically effective and cost-effective. I have led multi-centre randomised controlled trials within the NHS evaluating low-energy total diet replacement programmes prior to cancer surgery. We have also examined weight regain following GLP-1 receptor agonist medication, highlighting the importance of integrating pharmacological and behavioural approaches to optimise long-term outcomes.

Prior to this, I established intentional weight loss as a clinically meaningful treatment for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) through influential systematic reviews, translational collaborations and clinical trials. My research has informed international clinical guidelines. Across my programme, I bring together behavioural science, clinical trials and epidemiological research to address obesity as a modifiable driver of chronic disease risk.

Alongside research leadership, I am committed to developing research capacity and strengthening research culture. I supervise doctoral and pre-doctoral students, serve on the NIHR Health Services and Delivery Research funding panel, and contribute to public engagement activities.