Background: The prevalence of NAFLD is increasing in line with rates of obesity; it is currently estimated to affect 25% of the western world [1]. In the absence of approved pharmaceutical therapy, lifestyle intervention is the mainstay of current treatment [2]. Establishment of...
Background: Obesity is a growing problem in the developed world affecting 23% of the UK population [1]. Current treatment relies on 1:1 counselling, group support, pharmacological management and surgery [2]. Group weight loss has been shown to be effective and may offer a scalabl...
Introduction: The Department of Health (DH) [1] Infant Feeding Guidelines recommend that solid foods (SF) are introduced to infants at around 6 months. Moore et al.[2] suggest knowledge of DH guidelines improves compliance; this study assesses which sources of advice and which se...
Background: In recent years there has been a marked growth in the market of functional foods, promising consumers a wide range of benefits [1]. However research seeking to assess levels of consumer understanding has produced mixed results and is quickly outdated [2]. It is partic...
Background: The widespread use of high fructose corn syrup [1] and increasing sucrose intakes have led to significant increases in fructose intakes in Western societies [2]. Increasing fructose consumption has been implicated in the development of hypertension [3]. Furthermore, t...
Background: The UK population’s intake of sugar greatly exceeds recommendations [1] and this has been linked to an increased incidence of dental caries and obesity [2]. 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) is a bitter tasting compound naturally present in foods and recent research suggest...
Background: Strict adherence to a gluten free diet is the only treatment for coeliac disease. Over the past two decades, there has been a societal shift into less home cooking and eating at restaurants has become an important means of social participation [1] creating significant...
Background: The UK Government are considering introducing a tax on unhealthy foods to reduce their consumption in order to improve the nation’s health and fund National Health Service (NHS) costs for obesity related co-morbidities and treatments. They suggest that the evidence su...
Background: The communication skills of health care practitioners, such as Registered Dietitians (RDs) are increasingly recognised as fundamental to patient care and monitoring the effectiveness of these skills is recommended [1,2]. The aim of this study was to explore experience...
Background: There are no guidelines on gestational weight gain (GWG) in the UK although excess gain may increase the risk of postpartum obesity Siega-Riz et al. [1]. The present study aims to explore pregnant women’s knowledge of GWG and information received, using data from the...
Background: Malnutrition is a cause and consequence of disease, affecting at least 3 million UK adults (Elia, 2010 [1]) of which 93% are in the community at a cost to the NHS of £13 billion/year, BDA [2]. Food should be first line treatment for anyone identified as at risk of mal...
Background: Between 25-34% of patients admitted to hospital are at risk of malnutrition, BAPEN [1]. Protected mealtimes ensure all non-essential interruptions are limited so patients are eating in a clean, quiet and safe environment, HIS [2]. The aim of this evaluation was to det...
Background: Malnutrition is frequently managed by healthcare professionals without dietetic training using care pathways, with referral to a Dietitian occurring in patients who fail on first line treatments.A better understanding of the factors associated with malnutrition could...
Background: Decisions about artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) can be difficult to make. Team working, good communication and listening to other team views are recommended in non-emergency decisions relating to ANH (Royal College of Physicians and British Society of Gastroe...
Background: Locally, experienced dietitians have been teaching carbohydrate counting (CHOC) and associated insulin dose adjustment as per nationally recognised structured patient education programmes for people with type 1 diabetes since 2005. In 2007, the BDA suggested a protoco...