Food & Health Alliance

One of the country’s research powerhouses is undoubtedly the Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health which was founded in 1913 and has been a by-word for nutritional research ever since.

 The Rowett – which is largely funded by the Scottish government  - was one of the first to make the link between health, diet and poverty and in the 1920s produced the ground-breaking research that paved the way for free school milk in schools. It was also responsible for the celebrated Rowett Carnegie survey of 1939 which led to the rationing system adopted by the UK during the 2^nd World War.

Now part of the University of Aberdeen, the institute remains at the forefront of health and diet research not only in Scotland but across Europe. It has recently completed a number of projects for the Scottish government looking at key areas of health and diet such as obesity and metabolic health, cardiovascular health and diseases of the gut.

The Rowett has always attached great importance to turning scientific theory into practice and that is at the forefront of some key issues it will be pursuing over the next five years.

One major strand will be food security. “In essence,” says Sue, “this work will study how in practical terms people will be able to make changes to their diet and how agricultural industry can respond - because this means changes to the whole production process.”

One example is a project funded by WWF which showed how changes to people’s daily food choices could improve the nation’s health and also significantly reduce greenhouse gases. The ‘Livewell’ report has just been published.

Another important part of the institute’s work involves working closely with Scotland’s food and drink industry to help it produce healthier products for the general population. The newly launched Food and Health Innovation Service, based at the institute, will be a key agent in this – and there are big economic incentives as well. The healthy food market in the UK is now reckoned to be worth £20 billion but Scotland’s share is only £1 billion – so there is clearly room for expansion.

The Rowett is also closely involved in the search for food solutions to one of the biggest health issues facing Scotland at the moment – the seemingly inexorable rise in obesity among both adults and children.

The institute is co-ordinating a new EU study, Full4Health, which aims to tease out the relationship between food, the gut and the brain and how this regulates feelings of hunger and satiety. One part of the study will explore the role of reformulated, high protein food in a weight-loss diet and this will involve testing a pre-meal yogurt supplement on volunteers.

But perhaps the biggest challenge facing not only food researchers but also health promoters is actually changing day-to-day behaviour. Probably one of the best known health messages relates to eating five portions of fruit and vegetable a day but, says Sue, it’s one of the least well complied with.

“The number of people who really manage five portions a day is probably in the minority,” she notes. “If you’re going to ask people to change their behaviour you have got to somehow make it easy and provide a compelling motivation to do so.

“We can provide the information and the evidence but the key is giving people the motivation to change their behaviour.”

More information available at the Rowett Institue website

Contact: Dr Sue Bird