University acts to fight obesity epidemic

Published on Wednesday 1 April 2009 22:10

A UNIVERSITY yesterday announced plans to help meet the demand for health nutrition professionals required to tackle Scotland's rise in obesity and chronic dietary disease.

The University of Aberdeen is launching an MSc degree in public health nutrition, which will deliver nutritionists to work in agencies, health promotion, industry and health care.

Dr Lindsey Masson, a lecturer involved in the course, said: "There is a need for more people trained in public health nutrition who can carry out research into diet and disease and help try to prevent the rise in obesity and chronic diet-related diseases.

"We also need more people who can evaluate the strategies that are already in place."

Dr Geraldine McNeill, the head of the public health nutrition research group at the university's Rowett Institute, said: "The degree will explore the relationship between diet and chronic diseases, such as cancer, obesity and cardiovascular disease, as well as dietary influences on health in early and later life."