wire

A study by researchers at the University of Bristol examined the nutritional value of foods sold from campus vending machines, and the dietary habits and body weight of students who use the machines.

Nearly 33 per cent of the world's arable land has been lost to erosion or pollution in the last 40 years It takes about 500 years to form 2.5 cm of top soil under normal agricultural condition

Voltaire would have approved - new research shows there are distinct benefits in cultivating one's garden, particularly if it is a community garden. A team of researchers at the University of Glasgow, Professors Deirdre Shaw, Andrew Cumbers, Robert McMaster and Dr John Crossan, have uncovered strong evidence that participation in a community garden can boost health and well-being, promote social inclusion, enhance community relations, and improve learning.

Dr Bhaskar Vira (Department of Geography) is co-editor of the open access book Forests and Food , which will be launched at the Global Landscapes Forum in Paris next month.

Health experts, Professor Simon Capewell and Dr Emma Boyland , from the University's Institute of Psychology, Health & Society presented evidence this week to the Health Select Committee enquiry on Childhood Obesity.

Genes involved in schizophrenia and obesity have been highlighted in a new UCL study, which could lead to a better understanding of the DNA variants which affect risk of these conditions and aid the development of improved strategies for prevention and treatment. The research by the UCL Genetics Institute, published in Annals of Human Genetics, involved analysing over one million genetic variants in over two thousand research subjects who had either schizophrenia or severe childhood onset obesity.

First analysis of effectiveness of agri-environment schemes measured at a national level suggests that they work, but are still a drop in the ocean compared to huge government subsidies received by farming industries for environmentally damaging practices.

Eating a high-fat Mediterranean-style diet rich in olive oil nuts and oily fish, is more beneficial to your health than counting calories, according to Simon Capewell , Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Liverpool.

Researchers from the University of Birmingham have shown that drinking 500ml of water at half an hour before eating main meals may help obese adults to lose weight. They believe that the simple intervention could be hugely beneficial, and be easily promoted by healthcare professionals and through public health campaigns.

A new and more dangerous phase of impacts on the world's remaining tropical forests is emerging, threatening to simplify the world's most diverse ecosystem including mass species loss, according to new UCL-led research published today in Science.

A variation of a gene that can lead teenagers to binge eat has been identified by researchers. The work, carried out by academics at UCL and the universities of Bristol and Queensland, hope the finding will allow a better understanding of why binge eating develops, and inform the development of future preventative strategies for teens at risk before they become overweight or obese.

New research published today (Friday 17 July) has revealed that affection from grandparents towards their grandchildren may play a major role in contributing to the childhood obesity pandemic in China. A study by the University of Birmingham (UK) shows that grandparents tend to indulge, overfeed and protect grandchildren in their care from physical chores, thus increasing their risk of obesity.

The chance of an obese person attaining normal body weight is 1 in 210 for men and 1 in 124 for women, increasing to 1 in 1,290 for men and 1 in 677 for women with severe obesity, according to a study of UK health records led by King's College London. The findings, published in the American Journal of Public Health , suggest that current weight management programmes focused on dieting and exercise are not effective in tackling obesity at population level.

More than a third of overweight or obese teenagers don't see themselves as being too heavy and think their weight is about right, according to a UCL study published today in the International Journal of Obesity . The study used data from around 5,000 13-15-year-olds who were asked about their weight and if they thought they were too heavy, about right or too light.

The general public is confused about how foods provide a mix of nutrients, what the body needs and what a 'nutritionally balanced' or nutritionally complete diet is, according to a new study.

Nutritional labels on food packaging are confusing to consumers and may be hindering attempts to promote healthy diets and reduce obesity, according to a new study from the University of Birmingham. The report, based on the results of face-to-face's with shoppers, finds that while most people check front-of-pack (FOP) labels and recognise their importance, the 'traffic light' system used by many retailers is ambiguous to consumers, who also suffer from 'information overload' and a lack of contextual knowledge.

Researchers at the University of Leeds have found a possible association between the rise in obesity and the increase in cases of male breast cancer. The findings, published in the journal BMC Medicine and funded by the charity Yorkshire Cancer Research , suggest a link between female hormones produced in the fat cells of obese men and the growth of cancerous tumours.

Pregnant women are not getting enough information about the need to include iodine in their diets, despite high awareness of general advice for pregnancy nutrition.

Megan Blake, Director of the MA Food Security and Food Justice at the University of Sheffield, comments on the growing number of people in the UK who need emergency food assistance.

Cereal crop researchers will be discussing their work over coffee and croissants at a science breakfast in the run up to the Imperial Festival.

A new report underlines the crucial role that forests play in food security and poverty reduction with one billion people worldwide dependent on forests and trees for balanced diets and sustainable incomes.

"Ancient relationship" between fungi and plant roots creates genetic expression that leads to more root growth.

"Ancient relationship" between fungi and plant roots creates genetic expression that leads to more root growth.

"Ancient relationship" between fungi and plant roots creates genetic expression that leads to more root growth.

People who eat different types and brands of commonly available food items, such as pizza, are more likely to overeat than people who tend to consume the same brand, according to new research conducted at the University of Bristol.

Caroline Wood, a PhD student in Plant Biology at the University of Sheffield, discusses how modern science is developing techniques to protect crops from parasitic plants.

The number of takeaway food outlets has risen substantially over the past two decades, with a large increase seen in areas of socioeconomic disadvantage, according to a study carried out across Norfolk by researchers at the University of Cambridge.

The University of Leeds will be driving innovation in food security after a new multi-million pound research grant was awarded by government.

Academics from the University of Birmingham are engaging with grandparents in China, to help tackle the increasing problem of obesity amongst Chinese children in a trailblazing public health programme.

Poor diet is the number one risk factor for disease in the UK that could be improved with some lifestyle changes.

Men and women who adapt their daily diet to meet current UK dietary guidelines could reduce their risk of a heart attack or a stroke by up to a third, according to a new study by King's College London.

Scientists have found that reducing the size of tiny hair like structures on stem cells stops them turning into fat. The discovery could be used to develop a way of preventing obesity. The research, conducted at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), found that a slight regulation in the length of primary cilia, small hair-like projections found on most cells, prevented the production of fat cells from human stem cells taken from adult bone marrow.

Scientists at The University of Nottingham hope new research could lead to the introduction of cereal crops better able to tolerate flooding.

A third of children in England are overweight/obese, finds a 20-year King's College London study of electronic health records, published online in Archives of Disease in Childhood . But the rapid rise in prevalence may be starting to level off—at least in younger children—the findings indicate, although there are no grounds for complacency, warn the researchers.

Home > News > News releases > Advances in soil carbon could be the key to improving food security and water quality Scientists from the University of Sheffield have identified advances in im

Lancaster University is working with researchers across the UK and India to provide improved crops for the future. The University is working on one of seven new research projects launched today to help provide new or improved crops for the future. The projects involve collaborations between researchers in the UK and India and aims to provide crops suitable for a changing climate and to produce more food with fewer inputs.

A review, undertaken by scientists at the University of Warwick, of the current evidence on the dietary and health impact of whole grain cereal consumption finds that many of the myths attributed to wheat free diets are just that - myths, and that whole grains such as wheat are beneficial for the majority of people.

A majority of obese people in Britain would not describe themselves as "obese", and many would not even describe themselves as "very overweight", according to research by UCL and Cancer Research UK published in BMJ Open.

Bariatric (weight loss) surgery, such as gastric bypass or gastric banding, could reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by around 80 per cent in obese people, compared with standard care, new research published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal suggests. Being overweight or obese is the main modifiable risk factor for type 2 diabetes.

An innovative free School Meals Planner developed at Imperial College London is improving the nutritional intake of millions of schoolchildren.

Home > News > News releases > University centre will focus on finding sustainable ways to feed the world Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures reveals 12 key areas of research to solve som

Novel use of UK national data finds a growing gap between the prices of more and less healthy foods between 2002 and 2012. Healthy foods in 2012 were three times more expensive per calorie than less healthy foods. We need to address the high and rising prices of healthier foods, which is likely to be influenced by a number of factors including agricultural policy and production, food distribution, and retail pricing strategies Pablo Monsivais A new study, published today in the journal PLOS One, tracked the price of 94 key food and beverage items from 2002 to 2012.

Katharine Jenner, Lecturer in Nutrition and Public Health at QMUL, asks - should we be eating sugar at all? A gold standard of evidence in nutritional science is notoriously hard to achieve. Calls for double blind trials of free sugars, or systematic reviews on intakes are often used as delaying tactics favoured by organisations that are backed, openly and surreptitiously, by the food industry.

Press release issued: 17 September 2014 A new project to improve the health of children across Bristol gets underway this month as experts from across the city join forces to tackle the inequalities faced by 20,000 youngsters living in poverty.

Declines in populations of pollinators, such as bees and wasps, may be a key threat to nutrition in some of the most poorly fed parts of the globe, according to new research. A major study, published today in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B and co-authored by a University of Leeds academic, looked at the importance of pollinators to 115 of the most common food crops worldwide and the importance of those crops in delivering vital nutrients to vulnerable populations.

Home > News > News releases > Comment: Creating 480 varieties of wheat is deserving of the World Food Prize Angela White, a PhD student in Plant Biology at the University of Sheffield, comments on the challenges faced by scientists trying to increase wheat yield.

Sugars in the diet should make up no more than 3% of total energy intake to reduce the significant financial and social burdens of tooth decay, finds new research from UCL and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.