Nutrition and diet
This theme spans a number of research areas investigating molecular through to behavioural aspects of nutrition and diet.
These areas include dietary and behavioural interventions, the impact of diet on metabolic health, and nutrient sensing and homeostasis in the gut and elsewhere. Researchers work on behavioural interventions to prevent or treat ill-health in people who have poor diets or are obese, using trials to assess the interventions and how these can be delivered effectively. They also aim to tackle population ill-health through policy-level interventions, advocacy and public engagement. Many projects are pursued within a primary care setting including projects to help diabetic patients manage their condition better through glucose monitoring, and developing and testing digital health systems to provide tailored feedback to improve lifestyle and better use of medicines.
Oxford researchers also carry out epidemiological studies of large prospective cohorts in the UK and other countries to investigate how diet and nutrition impact on health. In addition, there are groups exploring at the molecular, cellular and systems level the physiological responses to food intake and nutrients, and the impact of dietary and nutritional interventions on metabolic health and integration between tissues.