Industry watch archive
2nd June 2025
GLP-1 receptor agonists are now been viewed as potential treatments for a wide range of chronic diseases, including Alzheimer’s whereas the focus on using GLP-1 receptor agonists previously was for the treatment of obesity and diabetes.
According to GlobalData, a leading analytics and data company, drug developers are increasing their efforts to expand the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists due to growing evidence around their broader therapeutic benefits, especially in targeting insulin resistance.
64.5% of Adults in England Overweight or Obese, New Data Reveals
19th May 2025
64.5% of adults aged 18 years plus were estimated to be overweight or living with obesity in England in 2023-2024. This is higher than 2022-2023 where 64.0% were estimated to be overweight or living with obesity.
There has been an increase in the estimated number of people overweight or living with obesity since 2015-2016 when the estimated percentage was at 61.2%.
The prevalence of adults in England overweight and living with obesity increased with age up to age 64 in 2023-2024 and then decreased in the 65 to 74 years old and older age groups.
19th May 2025
Food for the Brain have launched a new project to find out what the best diet is to develop a child’s emotional, intellectual, and behavioural development.
Parents are invited to complete a questionnaire about their child’s diet and lifestyle and also behaviour and emotion aspects using a Strengths and Difficulties questionnaire (SDQ). The child also completes a validated online Cognitive Function Test.
Parents are then advised about any areas of concern and what to do about it.
6th May 2025
Competitive eating involves participants eating as much food as possible in a set period of time.
The biggest event in competitive eating is the hotdog eating contest in Coney Island, New York City which is held annually on 4th July. The competitors consume as many hotdogs, including buns, as they can in 10 minutes. The record is 76 hotdogs.
Risks of competitive eating include choking, possible rupturing of the oesophagus or stomach and aspiration pneumonia. However, there are a lack of studies on the effects of competitive eating.
Egg safety warning: Food poisoning risk as supermarket suppliers found to use fake best-before dates
6th May 2025
Egg producers have been prosecuted for falsifying their best before dates which have put many people at risk of food poisoning.
'Class A' eggs which are the only grade shops, supermarkets, and pubs can legally sell, must have a 'best before' date not greater than 28 days after they are laid, under UK law.
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) have found businesses that were re-labelling their eggs and prolonging the 'best before' dates.
21st April 2025
Leading meals producer, apetito Wiltshire Farm Foods, has appointed a new Senior Dietitian, Rachel Sipaul, to its New Product Development team.
Joining from ‘Education Catering’ with Hampshire County Council, Rachel led on nutritional support for children across 400+ schools. Speaking of her new role, Rachel says:
“I’m delighted to join apetito Wiltshire Farm Foods as Senior Dietitian. The company is renowned within the Healthcare, Care Homes, Education and Social Care sectors for its award-winning meals and for its pioneering work across specialist nutrition.
Find out more about Wiltshire Farm Foods here:
21st April 2025
The British Medical Journal (BMJ) has found that the advertising industry's lobbying is hindering plans which aim to protect public health. These plans involved prohibiting junk food adverts from billboards and bus stops.
The advertising industry have warned local authorities who are struggling financially that the councils’ advertising profits will decline if they obstruct the promotion of foods high in fat, salt, or sugar (HFSS). The BMJ investigation has found that these warnings have resulted in some English local authorities postponing their plans in spite of the possible benefits to public health.
Predicting older people’s frailty helps doctors intervene earlier
7th April 2025
Researchers have improved the Electronic Frailty Index (eFI) – which is used to predict older peoples’ risks of living with frailty. Medical professionals can now help to prevent falls, provide holistic care, reduce medications, and provide exercise programmes to increase independence with the new Electronic Frailty Index 2 (eFI2).
A paper published by researchers at University of Leeds and University College London has concluded that the eFI2 can predict more accurately older people’s risk of falls, need for home care, admission to care homes or death.
7th April 2025
UNESCO has published a new report 'Education and Nutrition: Learn to Eat Well' developed along with the Research Consortium for School Health and Nutrition.
The new UNESCO report highlights the importance of school meals for the education and health of children. The report summarises that although many children have access to school meals, more emphasis needs to be placed on the nutritional value of the produce used for school meals.
24th March 2025
A new study by Pharmacy2U, the UK’s largest digital pharmacy, and PocDoc, the UK’s leading digital health and diagnostics firm found that a digital-first approach for individuals screening heart health in their homes, could increase the number of people recognising, and following up on, early signs of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
It was found that 69% of the 3,781 study participants carried out a blood test at home. This was significantly higher than the 44% of eligible patients who went to their NHS Health Check.
Brits lack a third of their daily fibre health fix - heightening risk of diabetes, heart disease, and bowel cancer
24th March 2025
A report “Going against the grain” highlights British peoples' lack of knowledge about the benefits of fibre in their diet. The report used data from a consumer survey of over 1000 British adults aged 18 years old to 75 plus years old.
The report found that while 74% of people surveyed claimed to know how to define dietary fibre, only 36% picked out the correct definition from a list. It was also found that greater than four in 10 of the adults surveyed were unaware that high fibre diets reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
10th March 2025
A rapid literature review conducted by the British Nutrition Foundation and a survey carried out among FoodCycle’s volunteers and guests has suggested that community dining offers a reliable, stable, dignified, and inclusive service.
The review also found that community dining assists with both financial and physical food access, helping guests to meet their dietary requirements and allowing communities to have a role in their health and wellbeing.
10th March 2025
A study has warned that the growth of bananas for exportation may no longer be economically feasible in many parts of the Caribbean and Latin America by 2080. Climate change is resulting in increasing temperatures, which is making these areas less suitable for the growth of bananas.
The study also identifies socioeconomic barriers to adapting to climate change, including labour shortages and a lack of access to infrastructure.
Dessert stomach emerges in the brain
25th February 2025
Researchers investigated the reaction of mice to sugar in order to find out the reason for the "dessert stomach". The researchers found that mice that were satiated still consumed desserts. It was found that POMC neurons were responsible for this after investigating the mice brains.
The researchers also examined brain scans on human volunteers who were given a sugar solution through a tube. The researchers found that the same area of the brain responded to the sugar in humans.
25th February 2025
The impact of weight loss drugs on foodservice and hospitality businesses has posed major questions. The commercial impact of weight loss drugs on the UK foodservice industry has been minimal at present. “...GLP-1 drugs are...tightly regulated and only accessible to a select group of adults who meet specific criteria and are referred by an NHS specialist,” states Trish Caddy, associate director of foodservice at Mintel.
10th February 2025
A new study has shown that Chlorella Vulgaris, a freshwater microalga high in protein, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, and minerals could be the next ‘superfood’ - enabling scientists in dealing with global food security issues while promoting environmental sustainability.
Chlorella Vulgaris can be blended into food products to improve their nutritional value. It is a promising nutraceutical ingredient with its antioxidant attributes, detoxifying effects, and immune support.
Social networking app created to improve patient care across the globe launches in UK
10th February 2025
A social networking app called SurgeOn aimed to improve patient care worldwide was launched in the UK on 21st January 2025. The app has already been successful in the US, over 17,000 doctors have signed up and it is now available for the NHS.
It has been described as “Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube all rolled into one”. The app will enable doctors to ask questions, share skills, and learn from each other on a global level.
13th January 2025
A large UK prospective study found that having more calcium in the diet (equal to a glass of milk per day) was associated with decreasing the risk of bowel cancer.
The study investigated the diets of over half a million women over 16 years old and found bread and non-dairy milks containing calcium and dark leafy greens were associated with being protective against bowel cancer.
If you or a colleague has ever experienced a claim against you in your professional role as a dietitian or nutritionist, you will know how stressful and worrying it can be. PI insurance protection can cover you against claims of negligence or breach of duty made by a client.
Specialist PI broker, Trafalgar Risk Management (TRM), has announced the extension of its comprehensive and competitive PI insurance protection to cover registered dietitians and nutritionists against such claims.
The cover is available with premium funding from www.trafalgarinsurance.co.uk.