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Science Briefs

Can a healthy diet be environmentally sustainable?

In a review published in the Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, Dr Macdiarmid from the Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health (Aberdeen), addresses the question whether a healthful diet can also be environmentally sustainable. While she finds that it may be possible to achieve a diet that is both healthful and sustainable, one should not automatically assume that they go hand in hand. Consumer understanding of sustainable diets is often poor and a more effective combination of research and communication is needed to establish dietary recommendations which can fulfil both of these societal goals.

Why do we opt for the light version?

Researchers from the National Consumer Research Centre and the University of Helsinki published a recent study as part of a Finnish research project on weight management (KULUMA, 2009-2011). They analysed attitudes of middle-aged and elderly Finns towards products designed for weight management and found that consumers can have less favourable views towards ‘light’ products in general but still opt for them when being on a diet to lose weight.

What determines the nutrition knowledge of food shoppers across Europe?

Researchers from Aarhus University, Denmark, and the European Food Information Council (EUFIC) have analysed socio-demographic and attitudinal determinants of nutrition knowledge of food shoppers from six European countries: UK, Sweden, France, Germany, Poland, and Hungary. Main findings include social grade, country of residence and age to directly influence participants’ nutrition knowledge. Furthermore, older people, women and respondents of a higher socio-economic status showed a more active interest in healthy eating. The use of expert sources (physicians, dieticians and health associations) had only a small effect on how low or high the measured nutrition knowledge of participants in this study was.

Systematic review of ‘nutritively sweetened beverage’ consumption and an association with bodyweight struggles to find conclusive evidence

The direct effects of drinking beverages with added sugar or other caloric sweeteners on bodyweight are difficult to discern. A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials, published in the journal Obesity Reviews, calls for further robust research into the effect of reducing intake of such beverages by overweight individuals.

Drinking water before a meal may help reduce calorie intake in the elderly

Elderly people trying to eat less may benefit from drinking a large glass of water before meals, suggest two studies from the USA.

Slow eating may be rewarded with lower calorie intake in women

Women who eat slowly may end up consuming less calories than fast-eating women, despite longer duration of eating occasions.

Genetic factors remain major driver of obesity risk

A large UK study has concluded that our genes may determine as much as 77% of our obesity risk, while environmental factors seem to be less important.

Diet and exercise best for post-natal weight management

Women keen to lose weight after childbirth should combine diet and exercise claims a new study published by the influential Cochrane Database.

Large portions contribute to weight gain

Portion sizes of ready-to-eat foods and restaurant meals have steadily increased over the past decade. This has prompted concern from health educators because larger portion sizes may cause over-consumption of energy and weight gain. A new US study suggests that this analysis is correct.

Food cravings: a challenge during weight loss

The common belief that food cravings are simply due to an addiction to high carbohydrate foods has been explored by US researchers.