News

Tabitha Ward RD

Tabitha is a Senior Dietitian in Weight Management. She is also a freelance health writer.

TabithaWardRD

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WE’RE MOTIVATED TO GET

HEALTHIER IN 2021

A new survey from Public Health England (PHE) of more than 5000 adults has found that 80% of people have made the decision to make healthier lifestyle changes this year. The majority of adults (70%) say they are motivated to make these changes as a result of COVID-19.

The survey revealed that in 2020, the pandemic led to less healthful behaviours: • 35% of people reported unhealthy snacking at least once a day. • 30% said they were exercising less in the latter half of the year. • 29% of smokers stated they smoked more in the second lockdown. • 23% of drinkers claimed their alcohol intake increased following the second lockdown.

Approximately six million adults aged between 40 and 60 now want to eat healthier (40%), lose weight (39%) and exercise more (41%). This is likely to be linked to the evidence showing an increase in intensive care admissions for COVID-19 for those living with obesity, compared with those with a healthy BMI.

Dr Alison Tedstone, Chief Nutritionist at Public Health England (PHE), said: “Our survey shows the vast majority of us want to do something positive this year to improve our health and now is a good time for a reset, whether it be eating more healthily, being a healthier weight, getting more active, stopping smoking or doing more to look after our mental health.”

View the survey here: www.gov.uk/government/news/seven-in-10-adults-are-motivated-to-get-healthier-in2021-due-to-covid-19. For more on the PHE’s ‘Better Health’ campaign, go to: www.nhs.uk/better-health

HIGH INTAKE OF REFINED GRAINS ASSOCIATED WITH CVD

A prospective cohort study published in The British Medical Journal has found an association between intakes of refined grains and adverse health outcomes. The Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study was conducted in low-, middle- and high-income countries around the world. The study analysed 137,130 participants in 21 different countries. Researchers used country validated food frequency questionnaires to assess intakes of refined grains, wholegrains and white rice. Results showed that intakes of refined grains and added sugars have increased over the years and having more than seven servings of refined grains per day was associated with a 27% greater risk of early death, 33% greater risk of heart disease and 47% greater risk of stroke. No significant associations were found between intakes of wholegrains or white rice and health outcomes.

The study suggests that globally, we should be eating more wholegrain foods and less cereal grains and refined wheat products in order to optimise health outcomes.

DRUG FOR TREATING OBESITY LEADS TO REDUCTION IN BODY WEIGHT

A new drug has shown a reduction in body weight by more than 20% in adults, according to a study recently published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

The study looked at nearly 2000 adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or ≥27 in adults with ≥1 weight-related coexisting condition. It took place at 129 sites in 16 countries across Asia, Europe, North America and South America. Participants received either 68 weeks of once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide injections (dose of 2.4mg), or a matching placebo. Both groups received lifestyle intervention.

Results showed an average weight loss of 15.3kg in the semaglutide group compared with 2.6kg in the placebo group, and 35% of participants who took the drug lost more than 20% of their body weight and showed a greater improvement in cardiometabolic risk factors. The drug group also reported improvements in their overall quality of life.

Semaglutide is already approved and used clinically at a lower dose for treatment of diabetes. Now, with the evidence from this trial, the drug has been submitted for regulatory approval as a treatment for obesity to the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE), the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

For more information, go to: https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183

EATING OILY FISH COULD REDUCE THE RISK OF ASTHMA IN CHILDREN

A recent study, published in The European Respiratory Journal, has found an association between oily fish consumption and risk of asthma in mid-adolescence. The researchers used food frequency questionnaires to assess dietary intakes of EPA and DHA from fish at seven years of age up until the age of 14 in children in both England and Sweden. They then analysed associations between intake of EPA and DHA and incidence of doctordiagnosed asthma at age 11-14 years and looked at potential effect modification by a fatty acid desaturase (FADS) polymorphism.

Results showed that in children with a common FADS variant, eating at least two portions of fish a week showed a 50% reduction in the risk of developing asthma between the ages of 1114. Researchers suspect that higher levels of omega-3 may be protective against asthma through reduced inflammation of the airways. However, these results were only shown in children with a particular genetic make-up (FADS variant).

The study could not prove cause and effect, but it provides insight into how genetic screening could be used to provide personalised nutrition advice.

Professor Shaheen, a clinical professor of respiratory epidemiology in London, said, “Whilst we cannot say for certain that eating more fish will prevent asthma in children, based on our findings, it would nevertheless be sensible for children in the UK to consume more fish, as few currently achieve recommended intake.”