Why we just can't stop eating: the complex truth behind obesity

cjb250 — Mon, 23 Jul 2018 08:27:40 +0000

Britain has seen a dramatic transformation in recent years in its attitude towards food. We have gone from being a country ridiculed for its bland, carb-heavy cuisine, for whom the chicken tikka masala was the height of exoticness, to becoming a nation obsessed with food.

But alongside this obsession with food has come a growing understanding of the impact that our diet has on our bodies – not only on our waistlines, but also on conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and even dementia.

This relationship between our diet and our weight is simple: you eat too much, you get fat. Hence, some would argue, the solution should be equally simple: you eat less, you lose weight.

If only it were this easy. Anyone who has tried to shed a few pounds – and, crucially, to keep them off – knows that the answer is rarely so straightforward. In fact, even the food – and volume – that we ‘choose’ to eat is influenced by a surprising number of factors.

Obesity is often characterised as nothing more than greed and lack of willpower. ̽��ֱ��truth is far more complex.

Cedric Bousquet

Chattering teeth

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̽��ֱ��Academy of Medical Sciences announces new Fellows for 2015

jeh98 — Mon, 11 May 2015 09:38:09 +0000

Forty-eight researchers from across the UK, including five Cambridge ̽��ֱ�� academics, have been recognised for their contribution to the advancement of medical science by election to the Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences.

Academy Fellows are elected for excellence in medical research, for innovative application of scientific knowledge or for their conspicuous service to healthcare. ̽��ֱ��expertise of the new Fellows includes addictions, anaesthesia, age-related diseases and animal biology.

̽��ֱ��Fellows elected from the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge are:

Professor Roger Barker – Professor of Clinical Neuroscience and Honorary Consultant Neurologist, Addenbrooke’s Hospital and Department of Clinical Neurosciences

Professor Sarah Bray – Professor of Developmental Biology, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience

Professor John Danesh – BHF Professor of Epidemiology and Medicine and Head of the Department of Public Health and Primary Care

Professor Fiona Gribble – Professor of Endocrine Physiology, Department of Clinical Biochemistry

Professor David Klenerman – Professor of Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry

Professor Sir John Tooke PMedSci, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences said: “ ̽��ֱ��Academy of Medical Sciences champions the excellence and diversity of medical science in the UK, and this is clearly demonstrated in this year’s cohort of new Fellows. Their broad range of expertise and fantastic achievements to date shows just how strong the Fellowship is – from the NHS knowledge of Sir Andrew Dillon to the policy experience of Professor Christl Donnelly. Their election is a much deserved honour, and I know they will contribute greatly to the Academy. I am delighted to welcome them all to the Fellowship, and look forward to working with them in the future.”

̽��ֱ��independent Academy of Medical Sciences promotes advances in medical science and campaigns to ensure these are translated into benefits for patients. ̽��ֱ��Academy’s Fellows are the United Kingdom’s leading medical scientists from hospitals, academia, industry and the public service.

View the full list of new Fellows.

̽��ֱ��Academy of Medical Sciences has announced the election of its new Fellows, including five Cambridge ̽��ֱ�� academics.

̽��ֱ��Academy of Medical Sciences

̽��ֱ��text in this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. For image use please see separate credits above.

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̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge - Fiona Gribble

Why we just can't stop eating: the complex truth behind obesity

̽��ֱ��Academy of Medical Sciences announces new Fellows for 2015