Behind the Headlines

Do diet soft drinks actually make you gain weight?

Wednesday Apr 8 2015

"Is Diet Coke making you fat? People who drink at least one can a day have larger waist measurements," the Mail Online reports. A US study found an association between the daily consumption of diet fizzy drinks and expanded waist size…

Healthy diet could cut risk of Alzheimer's disease

Tuesday Mar 31 2015

"A new diet could more than halve a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease," the Mail Online reports. In a new study, researchers looked at the effects of three diets on the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease…

Sperm quality pesticides claim 'should be treated with caution'

Tuesday Mar 31 2015

"Pesticides on fruit and vegetables may be damaging sperm counts and men should consider going organic if they want to have children," The Daily Telegraph reports…

Parents fail to spot that their kids are obese

Monday Mar 30 2015

"Parents hardly ever spot obesity in their children, resulting in damaging consequences for health," BBC News reports after a new study found a third of UK parents underestimated the weight of their child…

Milk and dairy 'good for the brain' claim unproven

Thursday Mar 26 2015

"Three glasses of milk every day ‘helps prevent Alzheimer's and Parkinson's’," is the misleading headline in The Daily Telegraph. The study it reports on only found that a high-dairy diet was linked to increased levels of an…

Research casts doubt on aspartame sensitivity

Friday Mar 20 2015

"Sweetener linked to cancer is safe to use," reports the Mail Online. Aspartame – a commonly-used artificial sweetener – has been dogged by controversy, despite being deemed safe by food regulators in the UK, EU and US...

Following UK dietary advice may cut heart disease risk

Thursday Mar 19 2015

"Sensible diet cuts heart attack risk in months," The Times reports after a randomised controlled trial found evidence that following current UK diet guidelines can reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors…

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Obese people 'underestimate how much sugar they eat'

Tuesday Mar 17 2015

"Obese people are 'in denial' about the amount of sugar they eat," the Mail Online reports. Researchers looking into the link between sugar consumption and obesity found a "huge gap" between overweight people's self-reported...

Diet, exercise and brain training may help keep the mind 'sharp'

Thursday Mar 12 2015

"Dancing, doing Sudoku and eating fish and fruit may be the way to stave off … mental decline," The Guardian reports. A Finnish study suggests a combination of a healthy diet, exercise and brain training may help stave off mental decline...

A diet rich in veg and fish may reduce bowel cancer risk

Tuesday Mar 10 2015

"Becoming a pescetarian can protect against bowel cancer, new research suggests," the Mail Online reports. The US study found people who mainly eat fish and vegetables, and small quantities of meat, had a significantly reduced risk of bowel cancer…

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