Event: Thursday 6 September 2001

The University of Glasgow is bringing together leading health and nutrition experts to address a one day conference entitled 'Food, Diet and Health 2001'. The conference will enable interested parties including school teachers, caterers, health promotion experts and health professionals from throughout Scotland to exchange the latest information on health and diet and to debate possible solutions towards improving the diet of Scotland's consumers and tackling the increasing incidence of eating disorders.

Nick Nairn, Conference Speaker and one of the country's most popular chefs said: "Scotland's diet is appalling. That's a fact. The Solution? There is no fast remedy. Group effort is needed. From the Health Boards, the Executive and Education Departments to the multiples and the media. Each and everyone of us play a part and now it is time to work together and change the dietary trends of today".

Conference highlights

• Eating Disorders are responsible for the highest number of deaths from psychiatric illness, it is estimated that 165,000 people in the UK have eating disorders. Dr Heather Gardiner, Gartnavel Royal Hospital will address the issue of eating disorders in children and adolescents - "Starving for Happiness". She says "Eating disorders affect males and females of all ages and there is a lack of resources for young people with eating disorders which needs to be addressed urgently".

• Jim Thomson, Assistant Director of the Food Standards Agency (Scotland) who will speak on the work of the Food Standards Agency in Scotland in relation to nutrition. He said "Helping people to improve their dietary health is one of the agency's key priorities over the next five years and it is only by working with other bodies, such as the various health departments and the food industry that we can come close to achieving this aim".

• Professor MacGregor of St George's Hospital Medical School, London will update the audience on salt and health. Professor MacGregor is a long time opponent of the food manufacturers excessive use of salt. He says 70-80% of the current salt intake comes from processed foods. The public are totally unaware of the large amounts of hidden salt in these foods.

  There are huge commercial reasons for keeping the salt content of processed foods high, for example, if we reduce our salt intake drink sales will fall as salt intake is a major determinant of thirst.

• Other speakers include Professor Mike Lean, Department of Human Nutrition, University of Glasgow who's session will take a look at the topics which are currently exciting and challenging to the scientific research community, including additional scientists in Glasgow and the new structures and projects which will influence food composition and health in Scotland.

  Programme

  9.00 - 10.15 Registration

  10.15 - 10.25 Chair's opening comments
  Frances Gallagher, Adviser in Home Economics, Glasgow City Council, Education

  10.25 - 11.05What's new in Nutrition: 2000-2001?
  Professor Mike Lean, Head of Human Nutrition and Dr Jane Scott, Lecturer, Department of Human Nutrition, University of Glasgow

  11.05 - 11.40 Refreshment Break

  11.40 - 12.05 Questions and discussion

  12.05 - 12.25The work of the Food Standards Agency (Scotland) in relation to Nutrition
  Jim Thomson, Assistant Director, Food Standards Agency (Scotland)

  12.25 - 12.35 Questions and discussion

  12.35 - 1.45 Lunch

  1.45 - 1.50 Introduction to the afternoon session
  Frances Gallagher, Adviser in Home Economics, Glasgow City Council Education

  1.50 - 2.15Salt and Health: Neptune's Poisoned Chalice
  Professor Graham A MacGregor, Blood Pressure Unit, St George's Hospital Medical School, London

  2.15 - 2.25 Questions and discussion

  2.25 - 2.50Scottish Food and Healthy Eating: Co-operation and partnership; a joined up approach to improving Scotland's attitude towards food
  Nick Nairn, Chef - Director of Nairns

  2.50 - 3.00 Questions and discussion

  3.00 - 3.25 Refreshment break

  3.25 - 3.55Starving for Happiness? Eating disorders in children & adolescents
  Dr Heather Gardiner, Consultant Adolescent Psychiatrist, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, Glasgow

  3.55 - 4.10 Questions and discussion

  4.10 - 4.15 Closing comments

  Media Relations Office (media@gla.ac.uk)

• The Food, Diet and Health Conference 2000-2001 will be held on Thursday 6 September 2001, in the Posthouse Hotel, Glasgow City, Tel 0870 400 9032.

• For further information contact:

  Carolyn Fraser
  Department of Human Nutrition
  Yorkhill Hospital
  Glasgow
  Tel: 0141 201 9264
  Email: cf24f@clinmed.gla.ac.uk

  
  Available on 6 September at the Posthouse Glasgow City

• Or University of Glasgow Press Office, 0141 330 3535

• Conference sponsors LoSalt

First published: 5 September 2001