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"Food for thought: The science and politics of nutrition"

Swiss Re's 2018 Conference on Nutrition

Main web page for these videos: www-navigation Swiss Re, 2018 Conference on Nutrition.

KEY Message. Nutrition is a difficult field in which to do research. Randomised controlled trials, are hardly possible except in the short term. People randomly assigned to a diet they don't want to eat, will rebel, the drop-out rate will be high.

This conference brought together some of the world’s most thoughtful and influential voices in the field of nutrition and health, representing a range of backgrounds and perspectives, to help make sense of the state of current knowledge, the quality of the evidence on key issues, the extent and implications of potential disagreements between experts, and the agenda for further research.

www-navigation Here is free access to the twelve printed articles at the BMJ, Food for thought: 2018.

This video explains why Swiss Re, is interested in nutrition.

Evidence in nutrition research: when should we change our minds?


Jeffrey Bohn (10 minutes)

Published by; Swiss Re: June, 2020

Nutrition research faces many challenges, including biases, confounders and the lack of randomized controlled trials. Jeffrey Bohn, Chief Research Officer, Swiss Re Institute, and John Schoonbee, Global Chief Medical Officer, Swiss Re, discuss the controversies around evidence and the new techniques Swiss Re Institute is developing to derive causality from association studies.

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Panel discussion on "Low carb high fat diets: Public controversies and opportunities"

We suggest that you read the text the video below first.

Chair: Fiona Godlee: (56 minutes)

Published by: Swiss Re - June 2018

Fiona Godlee, Editor in Chief, The BMJ, moderated the panel discussion on "Low carb high fat diets: Public controversies and opportunities" at the Swiss Re Institute's "Food for thought: The science and politics of nutrition" conference on 14 - 15 June 2018 in Rüschlikon, Zürich, Switzerland.

These are some of the top diet gurus in the world. Sarah Hallberg was NOT, one of the speakers who gave formal presentations (20 min each) at the conference. It was a two day conference. Sarah Hallberg was given 5 minutes at the beginning to put forward her rather different point of view. She speaks five times during the hour.

OFH suggests you watch the first 17 minutes. Almost all the people asking questions are very well known personalities. If you are short of time also listen to the summary beginning at 54 minutes.

Panelists of this discussion:

Sarah Hallberg, Medical Director and Founder, Indiana University Health Arnett Medical Weight Loss Program, Indiana University Health: Low Carb Diabetes Reversal.
Michael Lean, Chair of Human Nutrition, University of Glasgow, and Consultant Physician Adjunct Professor of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, New Zealand: DiRect Study (Calorie Restriction).
Matthias Schulze, Professor and Head of the Department of Molecular Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition: Lead researcher on type 2 diabetes.
Jennie Brand-Miller, Professor of Human Nutrition, The University of Sydney: Glycemic Index, Australian Sugar Industry.
Roy Taylor, Professor of Medicine and Metabolism, Director of the Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre, Newcastle University: DiRect Study (Calorie Restriction).

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"Implications for current research, dietary guidelines and food policy"



Dariush Mozaffarian, Tufts University (20 minutes)

Published by; Swiss Re:- June, 2018

Dariush Mozaffarian, Jean Mayer Professor of Nutrition and Medicine, and Dean of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy, Tufts University, presented "A history of nutrition science: Implications for current research, dietary guidelines and food policy"

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Nutritional management and prevention of type 2 diabetes

Roy Taylor was involved in the successful DiRect Trial, using commercial shakes as a meal substitute to restrict the number of calories in the diet. His view reflects the mainstream view about what causes obesity and type II diabetes.


Roy Taylor: (21 minutes)

Published by; Swiss Re: - June 2018

Roy Taylor, Professor of Medicine and Metabolism, Director of the Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre, Newcastle University.

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Panel discussion on "Food politics and policy"


Chair, Navjoyt Ladher, Head of Scholarly Comment, at The BMJ, (54 minutes)

Published by; Swiss Re: - June 2018

Panelists of this discussion:

Sonia Angell, Deputy Commissioner, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Nita Gandhi Forouhi, Professor of Population Health and Nutrition, Programme Leader & Consultant Public Health Physician MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine
Günter Hemrich, Deputy Director a.i., Nutrition and Food Systems Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Nina Teicholz, Science Journalist and Author; Executive Director of the Nutrition Coalition
Martin White, Professor and Director of Research, Food Systems and Public Health, Centre for Diet and Activity Research, University of Cambridge,

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Panel discussion on "What evidence can we trust?"


Chair, John Schoonbee, Global Chief Medical Officer, Swiss Re: (62 minutes)

Published by; Swiss Re: - June 2018

Panelists of this discussion:

Zoë Harcombe, Author and Researcher, nutrient dense whole foods.
Aseem Malhotra, Consultant Cardiologist and Member, Academy Of Medical Royal Colleges Obesity Steering Group
Rita Redberg, Professor of Medicine, University of California, and Chief Editor, JAMA Internal Medicine
Gary Taubes, Science and Health Journalist, Co-Founder and President of the Non-Profit Nutrition Science Initiative
Walter Willett, Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School. Advocate for plant based and vegan diets.

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The role of commercial food systems in promoting health through better diet


Martin White: (18 minutes)

Published by; Swiss Re: - June 2018

"Achieving and Maintaining Nutritional Ketosis"

Martin White, Professor and Director of Research, Food Systems and Public Health, Centre for Diet and Activity Research, University of Cambridge.

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Closing comments and open discussion on the way forward

"Achieving and Maintaining Nutritional Ketosis"


Fiona Godlee: (56 minutes)

Published by; Swiss Re: - June 2018

Presenters in this discussion:

Dariush Mozaffarian, Jean Mayer Professor of Nutrition and Medicine; Dean of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University
Salim Yusuf, Distinguished University Professor of Medicine, McMaster University
Fiona Godlee, Editor in Chief, at The BMJ.

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