There are a lot of myths about obesity and weight loss, making it difficult for consumers to separate fact from fiction. This will be the basis for an interesting and thought-provoking lecture, Do diets work?, being hosted by the University of Aberdeen next week at Marischal Museum, as part of Chemistry Week 2005 (November 4-12).
Do diets work? aims to examine the scientific evidence about dieting and will guide the consumer as to what is true and what is false, and what we don't actually know!
The lecture is being organised by The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) as part of the biennial “Chemistry Week” event. It will be given by Dr Alex Johnstone, a post-doctoral research scientist at the Rowett Research Institute, who will present some of her findings from her diet and weight loss studies conducted at the Institute.
Dr Johnstone has been based at the Rowett Institute for 10 years, working within the Human Nutrition Unit and her main areas of scientific interest are in prevention and treatment of human obesity and how specifically dietary interventions impact on indices of energy balance, body composition, metabolism and health.
Commenting on the lecture, Dr Johnstone, said: “By the year 2010, it is estimated that 25% of the UK population will be obese. It is no longer ' the norm' to be normal weight!
“During the lecture I will uncover the myths surrounding diets and will examine the scientific evidence about dieting. For example, ‘I am not fat, I have big bones' - the role of bone on the weighing scales will be discussed.”
The audience is invited to stay and join Dr Johnstone for wine and nibbles after the lecture.
The lecture is free of charge and takes place at Marischal Museum at 7.30pm on Thursday, November 10. If you would like to attend please contact Dr Richard Wells (01224) 272920, or email: r.wells@abdn.ac.uk
The theme for this year’s Chemistry Week 2005 will be ‘Know Chemistry’ and will run from Friday 4 November to Sunday 13 November.
The general theme has been chosen to help show the contribution that chemistry and chemical science has brought to our lives today through a broad range of topics. 2005 is also the 400th anniversary of the appearance of the word chemistry in the Oxford dictionary and therefore provides an excellent opportunity to illustrate how different life would be with no chemistry in our lives.
Activities will be organised throughout the UK and Ireland via the RSC Local Sections and various events will take place in Aberdeen.
Dr Richard Wells, from the University of Aberdeen’s Department of Chemistry, and Secretary of the Aberdeen and Northern Scotland local section of the RSC is looking forward to a fascinating week of events. He said: “Chemistry is often portrayed as a dirty science and many people have little or no idea how much chemistry impacts on their every day lives. The aim of Chemistry Week is to help people understand that Chemistry is not just about oil refining and chemical plants, but also about everyday concerns such as bodyweight and how we produce the electricity that we all need to go about our everyday business.”