Nutrition and Body Composition in IBD: Mechanisms, Monitoring, and Therapeutic Approaches

Nutritional Status and Body Composition in Inflammatory Bowel Disease are increasingly recognized as critical yet often underappreciated determinants of outcomes in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Malnutrition in IBD encompasses a broad spectrum of nutritional disorders, ranging from undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies to overweight and obesity, all of which may adversely affect disease course, therapeutic response, surgical outcomes, and quality of life. Beyond overt weight loss, subtle alterations such as sarcopenia, sarcopenic obesity, reduced fat-free mass, liver steatosis, may occur even during clinical remission, underscoring the complexity of nutritional impairment in this population.

This research topic aims to gather high-quality contributions that advance our understanding of the complex interplay between inflammation, metabolism, diet, body composition, and nutritional status in IBD. We welcome original research, reviews, and perspectives exploring the underlying mechanisms driving both undernutrition and obesity, including the role of immune–metabolic pathways, gut microbiota, lifestyle factors, and treatment-related effects.

A key focus of this topic is the optimization of nutritional assessment and monitoring across the entire spectrum of malnutrition. Submissions addressing validated screening tools, longitudinal assessment strategies, and innovations in body composition analysis—such as bioelectrical impedance analysis, imaging techniques, and functional measures—are particularly encouraged. Studies evaluating the implementation of systematic screening approaches in clinical practice and their impact on the early detection of both nutritional deficits and excess adiposity are also of high interest.

Finally, this research topic seeks to highlight current and emerging therapeutic approaches targeting malnutrition and body composition abnormalities in IBD. These include personalized nutritional interventions, dietary strategies, enteral and parenteral nutrition, weight management approaches, physical activity and exercise programs, and the effects of pharmacological therapies on nutritional status and body composition. Contributions addressing multidisciplinary strategies to optimize metabolic health alongside disease control are especially welcome.

By integrating basic science, clinical insights, and translational research, this Topic will provide a comprehensive platform to improve the recognition, monitoring, and management of the full spectrum of malnutrition in IBD, ultimately supporting more personalized and multidisciplinary care.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Malnutrition, Sarcopenia, Body composition, Nutritional screening, Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), GLIM / ESPEN criteria, Nutritional therapy, Microbiota, Inflammation

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.