Two new Cochrane Reviews summarise the results of 114 studies which involved over 13,000 children and young people. They argue that a combination of diet, physical activity and behavioural change interventions may reduced weight in children aged 6-11 and adolescents aged 12-17. read more

At the European Conference on Obesity, scientists presented work on how the level of protein in early childhood diet is related to growth and body composition. The reported that high protein intake was associated with higher body fat mass. read more

Researchers publishing in the Journal of Physiology examined the effects of a high fat and sugar diet during mouse pregnancy on maternal glucose tolerance and insulin resistance and on feto-placental glucose metabolism. read more

Researchers investigate whether dietary mono-unsaturated fatty acids can extend lifespan in nematode worms in a new study published in Nature. read more

A population-based study published in BMC Medicine has examined lifetime and 12-month prevalence of eating disorders (ED) among women in mid-life. It claimed that a significant proportion of women will experience an ED by mid-life. read more

The association between Mediterranean-type diet and change in brain size across a 3-year period in older age (73-76 years) is assessed in new research publishing in the journal Neurology. read more

In a new review published in PLOS Medicine, the authors argue that sugar-free versions of drinks may be no better for weight loss or preventing weight gain than their full sugar counterparts, and they suggest artificially sweetened beverages should not be promoted as part of a healthy diet. read more

New research published in Thorax examines the association between higher cured meat intake and worsening asthma symptoms over time, using BMI as a mediator. read more

A systematic review of sugar intake guidelines was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. read more

A study published in The Lancet Public Health looks at the sugary drinks levy and its potential health impacts. read more

The government has drafted legislation on a sugar tax, first announced earlier in the year, that confirms a two-band levy for sugar-added soft drinks. read more

BMJ Case Reports has reported a case of a woman who developed hyponatraemia (abnormally low sodium levels) after drinking an excessive amount of water in an attempt to help a recurrent urinary tract infection.
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Scientists publishing in the British Medical Journal have reported a high intake of saturated fats could be linked to increased coronary heart disease risk. read more

The benefits and harms of taking vitamin D supplements for disease prevention are discussed in two articles in The BMJ. read more

An unpublished conference abstract discussed at the American Heart Association meeting has reported that yo-yo dieting may increase the risk of death from heart disease among postmenopausal women. read more

Publishing in the journal Cancer Research a group of scientists have examined the effects of emulsifiers present in processed foods and report that, in mice, they alter levels of gut bacteria and promote inflammation and colorectal cancer. read more

The funding and results of studies into the effects of sugar-sweetened beverages is examined in a paper published in the Annals of Internal Medicine journal with the authors reporting that industry-funded studies were more likely to find no connection between the drinks and obesity or diabetes. read more

An editorial published in the journal Open Heart has argued for the importance of balancing omega-6 (such as from cooking oils or eggs) and omega-3 (such as from oily fish) fatty acids in the prevention and management of obesity. read more

Publishing in the European Journal of Endocrinology a group a scientists have examined the effect of sweetened and artificially sweetened drinks on type 2 diabetes and latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) and report that increased consumption was associated with an increased risk of the disease. read more

An unpublished poster presentation presented at the International Early Psychosis Association (IEPA) meeting in Milan has reported the use of the chemical taurine as able to reduce the symptoms of psychosis. read more