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In this issue
- Four questions to help us make CEDAR Bulletin better
- Sugar levels in UK soft drinks lowered following government levy
- New Evidence Brief. Checking out checkouts
- Downsides of becoming an adult – becoming less active and gaining weight
- Cambridge Science Festival: Building a healthier childhood for a brighter future
- Physical Activity Measurement Seminar 2020 – applications open
- Turning the Tide – GDAR teams up with NCD Alliance and BBC StoryWorks
- RICHE | Africa Workshop on Healthy Cities – Report
- Also happening at the MRC Epidemiology Unit
- Upcoming talks and seminars
- Our latest publications
- Your information and preferences
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Sugar levels in UK soft drinks lowered following government levy
The UK government’s Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL), introduced in April 2018 to help combat childhood obesity and related conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, has resulted in soft drinks manufacturers in the UK lowering the sugar levels in their drinks, researchers have found.
The research was carried out by teams at the University of Oxford, CEDAR / MRC Epidemiology Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and Exeter and Bath Universities and is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).
The SDIL applies to drinks containing more than 5g of sugar per 100ml, but not to fruit juice, milk-based drinks, alcoholic drinks, or drinks from companies with sales of less than 1m litres per year. The changes in drink formulation brought about by the SDIL have been much greater than achieved by voluntary industry initiatives. The researchers found that very few eligible drinks, just 15%, were still liable for the levy by February 2019. Prior to the announcement of the levy, 52% of eligible drinks were liable for the tax.
- Read the full story
- Full paper: Impact of the announcement and implementation of the UK Soft Drinks Industry Levy on sugar content, price, product size and number of available soft drinks in the UK, 2015-19: A controlled interrupted time series analysis. Scarborough P et al, PLOS Medicine https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003025
This research was covered by The Times (print edition), Health Europa, MedicalXpress and Gizmodo among others, as well as on BBC Look East, and in an article from the Guardian that also looked at Chile’s anti-obesity measures.
New Evidence Brief – Checking out checkout food
Effects of UK supermarket policies on healthier food at the tills
Confectionery, salty snacks and chocolate are often found at supermarket checkouts, which can lead to impulse purchases. Many UK supermarkets have announced policies to remove such ‘junk’ food from their checkouts. But is this having an impact on what people actually buy?
This new Evidence Brief looks at the voluntary supermarket action currently happening, the impact on consumer purchases, and future priorities for public health action in this area.
Downsides of becoming an adult – becoming less active and gaining weigh
Two recent papers published in Obesity Reviews by Dr Eleanor Winpenny and Dr Kirsten Corder and colleagues examined changes in physical activity, diet and body weight as young adults move into parenthood and from education into employment. To do this, they carried out systematic reviews and meta-analyses of existing scientific literature.
In the first paper the team found that leaving high school was associated with a decrease of seven minutes per day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. The decrease was larger for males than it was for females, and was largest when people go to university.
In the second paper they found that the difference in change in body mass index (BMI) between remaining without children and becoming a parent was 17%. this means that a woman of average height (164cm) who had no children gained around 7.5kg over five to six years, while a mother of the same height would gain an additional 1.3kg.
- Read the full story.
- Winpenny, E. et al. Changes in physical activity, diet and body weight across the education and employment transitions of early adulthood: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obesity Reviews; 19 Jan 2020. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12962
- Corder, K. et al. Becoming a parent: a systematic review and meta-analysis of changes in BMI, diet and physical activity. Obesity Reviews; 19 Jan 2020. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12959
This research was reported in the Daily Mail, Telegraph, Metro, Sky News, Hindustan Times, MedicalXpress and several other news outlets.
Cambridge Science Festival – A healthier childhood for a brighter future
Sunday, 22 March, 11.00am – 4pm (drop in)
Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology, Robinson Way, CB2 0SZ
On Sunday 22 March members of CEDAR and the MRC Epidemiology Unit will be taking part in a drop-in event for families, as part of the 2020 Cambridge Science Festival.
Visit our stand and take part in a series of fun challenges to learn more about how our society and neighbourhoods influence children’s health, and what we can do to build a healthier future.
- Find out more here
- More about the Cambridge Science Festival at www.sciencefestival.cam.ac.uk
Physical Activity Measurement Seminar 2020 – Applications open
From the 7–11 September 2020, the MRC Epidemiology Unit will be holding its 10th Physical Activity Measurement Seminar at The Møller Centre in Cambridge, UK.
The course is primarily aimed at Research Assistants and PhD students interested or involved in the objective monitoring of free-living physical activity. However, anyone interested in this area of research is more than welcome to apply.
The seminar takes the format of a 5 day intensive residential course at the Møller Centre in Cambridge, is expected to attract delegates from all over the world.
- For more details and to apply, visit www.mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk/blog/pams2020-applications-open/
- A maximum of 26 places are available. The closing date for applications is Friday 8 May 2020.
Turning the tide – short films about non-communicable diseases
The Global Diet and Activity Research Group and Network (GDAR) has teamed up with the NCD Alliance and BBC StoryWorks as part of a short film series.
Turning the Tide is a series of films about the bold actions being carried out by communities and organisations to take on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes. The stories are about the small and significant changes being made for better, healthier lives.
Citizen science in Cameroon
The GDAR film shines a spotlight on a citizen science study GDAR is conducting in partnership with young people and communities in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The study seeks to understand more about how neighbourhoods and daily routines affect health.
- Watch the full series at ncdalliance.org/turning-the-tide/
- Find out more about GDAR at www.gdarnet.org/
RICHE | Africa Workshop on Healthy Cities – Report
Also from GDAR and partners, a report is now available for the RICHE | Africa Workshop on Healthy Cities: Intersectoral approaches to non-communicable disease prevention in Africa.
This workshop was organised by the Research Initiative for Cities Health and Equity (RICHE) Africa in association with GDAR, WHO Regional Office for Africa, Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study, School of Public Health and Family Medicine UCT, and LIRA 2030 Africa
The workshop convened researchers, decision makers and influencers from across sectors to explore approaches to NCD prevention through urban interventions.
Watch a short video introducing key themes from the conference:
Further information at www.gdarnet.org/workshops/external-workshops/
Also happening at the MRC Epidemiology Unit
Some other stories making the news at the MRC Epidemiology Unit, which leads CEDAR:
Testosterone levels affect risk of metabolic disease and cancers. Having genetically higher testosterone levels increases the risk of metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes in women, while reducing the risk in men. Higher testosterone levels also increase the risks of breast and endometrial cancers in women, and prostate cancer in men.
Study highlights potential for ‘liquid health check’ to predict disease risk. Proteins in our blood could in future help provide a comprehensive ‘liquid health check’, assessing our health and predicting the likelihood that we will we will develop a range of diseases, according to research published in Nature Medicine.
Understanding the causes and consequences of mosaic Y chromosome loss. Research led by Dr John Perry and Dr Deborah Thompson (a former member of the Centre for Cancer Genetic Epidemiology) has found that loss of the Y chromosome from circulating white blood cells is a biomarker of biological ageing that reflects broader genome instability across other tissues.
- More MRC Epidemiology Unit news at www.mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk/news/
Upcoming talks and seminars
Look out for more talks and events at www.mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk/events
Past talks where slides, audio or video are available are listed at www.mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk/past-seminars/
19 February 2020 18.00 – 19.15
Transforming Health Care Through Prevention – Primary Care at the Forefront
Professor Simon Griffin, Programme Leader, Prevention of Diabetes and Related Metabolic Disorders in High Risk Groups, MRC Epidemiology Unit.
Lee Hall, Wolfson College,Cambridge, CB3 9BB
Free registration here
20 February 2020, 12:00 – 13:00
Applications of geospatial data and methods in environmental epidemiology
S.M. Labib, Department of Geography, School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED), University of Manchester.
MRC Epidemiology Unit meeting rooms 1 and 2, Level 3, Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge Biomedical Campus.
6 March 2020, 18.00 – 19.15
Transforming Healthcare through Prevention – The NCD emergency, intergenerational inequality, and the urgent need for systems change
Professor Martin White, Programme Leader, Population Health Interventions, MRC Epidemiology Unit.
Lee Hall, Wolfson College,Cambridge, CB3 9BB
Free registration here
9 March 2020, 19.30 – 21.00
CSAR lecture: Let food be thy medicine
Professor Nita Forouhi, Programme Leader, Nutritional Epidemiology Programme, MRC Epidemiology Unit
Wolfson Hall, Churchill College, Cambridge, CB3 0DS
Please note CSAR lectures are open to members only, but CSAR welcome new members and would encourage you join CSAR online in advance of the event you wish to attend.
18 March 2020, 12.30 – 13.30
Andy Hong, Lead Urban Health Scientist at The George Institute for Global Health (UK), University of Oxford. Title TBC
Meeting Rooms 1 & 2, level 4, Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge Biomedical Campus.
23 April 2020, 11.00 – 12.00
The Challenges of Meta-analysing Metabolomics Data; Experiences from the Consortium Of METabolomics Studies (COMETS)
Dr Rachel Kelly, Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital & Harvard Medical School
Meeting Rooms 1 & 2, level 4, Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge Biomedical Campus.
13 May 2020, 11.30 – 12.30
Movement behaviours and cognitive development in early childhood: Evidence, insights and interventions from South Africa
Dr Catherine Draper, MRC/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand
MRC Epidemiology Unit meeting rooms 1 and 2, Level 3, Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge Biomedical Campus.
Our latest publications
The following papers have been published since the last CEDAR Bulletin. All are Open Access.
General public health
- Becoming a parent: A systematic review and meta-analysis of changes in BMI, diet, and physical activity. Corder K, Winpenny EM, Foubister C, Guagliano JM, Hartwig XM, Love R, Clifford Astbury C, van Sluijs EMF. Obes Rev.
- Changes in physical activity, diet, and body weight across the education and employment transitions of early adulthood: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Winpenny EM, Smith M, Penney T, Foubister C, Guagliano JM, Love R, Clifford Astbury C, van Sluijs EMF, Corder K. Obes Rev.
- Relationship Between Early Childhood Non-Parental Childcare and Diet, Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour, and Sleep: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies. Costa S, Benjamin-Neelon SE, Winpenny E, Phillips V, Adams J. Int J Environ Res Public Health.
- Residential neighbourhood greenspace is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease: A prospective cohort study. Dalton AM, Jones AP. PLoS One.
- The Recognition-Response Gap in Acute Stroke: Examining the Relationship between Stroke Recognition and Response in a General Population Survey. Wilhelm LO, Gellert P, White M, Araujo-Soares V, Ford GA, Mackintosh JE, Rodgers H, Sniehotta FF, Thomson RG, Dombrowski SU. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis.
- Using natural experimental studies to guide public health action: turning the evidence-based medicine paradigm on its head. Ogilvie D, Adams J, Bauman A, Gregg EW, Panter J, Siegel KR, Wareham NJ, White M. J Epidemiol Community Health.
Diet
- Correlates of English local government use of the planning system to regulate hot food takeaway outlets: a cross-sectional analysis. Keeble M, Adams J, White M, Summerbell C, Cummins S, Burgoine T. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act.
- Parents’ and carers’ awareness and perceptions of UK supermarket policies on less healthy food at checkouts: A qualitative study. Ford A, Eadie D, Adams J, Adamson A, White M, Stead M. Appetite.
- Perceived Barriers to Fruit and Vegetable Gardens in Early Years Settings in England: Results from a Cross-Sectional Survey of Nurseries. Benjamin-Neelon SE, Hecht AA, Burgoine T, Adams J. Nutrients.
- Perceptions of ‘Home Cooking’: A Qualitative Analysis from the United Kingdom and United States. Mills SDH, Wolfson JA, Wrieden WL, Brown H, White M, Adams J. Nutrients.
- The Relationship between Self-Reported Exposure to Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Promotions and Intake: Cross-Sectional Analysis of the 2017 International Food Policy Study. Forde H, White M, Levy L, Greaves F, Hammond D, Vanderlee L, Sharp S, Adams J. Nutrients.
Physical Activity
- A feasibility study of ‘The StepSmart Challenge’ to promote physical activity in adolescents. Corepal R, Best P, O’Neill R, Kee F, Badham J, Dunne L, Miller S, Connolly P, Cupples ME, van Sluijs EMF, Tully MA, Hunter RF. Pilot Feasibility Stud.
- A systematic review of the effect of infrastructural interventions to promote cycling: strengthening causal inference from observational data. Mölenberg FJM, Panter J, Burdorf A, van Lenthe FJ. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act.
- Exploring womens’ experiences and decision making about physical activity during pregnancy and following birth: a qualitative study. Findley A, Smith DM, Hesketh K, Keyworth C. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth.
- Local walking and cycling by residents living near urban motorways: cross-sectional analysis. Powers EFJ, Panter J, Ogilvie D, Foley L. BMC Public Health.
- Pathways to Increasing Adolescent Physical Activity and Wellbeing: A Mediation Analysis of Intervention Components Designed Using a Participatory Approach. Corder K, Werneck AO, Jong ST, Hoare E, Brown HE, Foubister C, Wilkinson PO, van Sluijs EM. Int J Environ Res Public Health.
- Physical activity attenuates metabolic risk of adolescents with overweight or obesity: the ICAD multi-country study. Werneck AO, Silva DR, Oyeyemi AL, Fernandes RA, Steene-Johannesen J, Andersen LB, Northstone K, Sardinha LB; International Children’s Accelerometry Database (ICAD) Collaborators. Int J Obes (Lond).
- Protocol for developing a core outcome set for evaluating school-based physical activity interventions in primary schools. Foley KA, Venkatraman T, Ram B, Ells L, van Sluijs E, Hargreaves DS, Greaves F, Taghavi Azar Sharabiani M, Viner RM, Bottle A, Saxena S. BMJ Open.
- Whole family-based physical activity promotion intervention: the Families Reporting Every Step to Health pilot randomised controlled trial protocol. Guagliano JM, Brown HE, Coombes E, Haines ES, Hughes C, Jones AP, Morton KL, van Sluijs E. BMJ Open.
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