Alarming new research announced at Gastro 2009, the world’s largest gastroenterology conference, calls for the public to be more aware of how much they eat rather than what they eat. Speaking at the conference today, Professor Chris Hawkey, President of The British Society of Gastroenterology, states that if we carry on as we are, by 2050 9 in 10 adults will be overweight or obese.

Prof Hawkey presented YouGov research, commissioned by the British Society of Gastroenterology, which aims to establish the public’s attitude towards food and dieting in order to highlight the impact a poor diet can have on your body. The research highlights that nearly half of Brits (49%) classify themselves as overweight as well as interesting attitudes to food and losing weight:

• 1 in 20 (5%) women would try the Atkins diet if trying to lose weight
• 1 in 5 (21%) of Londoners would turn to weight loss pills to lose weight
• Only 65% of women would increase exercise levels if trying to lose weight
• Only 2% of Brits think the Atkins diet is good for your health
• Nearly 1 in 10 (9%) people Brits think a high fish diet is bad for your health

In his speech, Prof Hawkey states:

“The problem facing society is not the content of our diet but it’s the quantity we are consuming and the consequential impact of obesity. Food has been shrouded in myths and fairytales since time immemorial as people argue over what is good for you, what should be avoided or eaten to your heart’s content. But what’s important is to recognise that despite the popularity of fad diets, we are losing a grip on the fight with obesity. Our research shows that 62% of the public think obesity will continue to increase for at least the next 10years. We need to do away with quirky diets and get people to realise what will keep them healthy in the long run.”

In his talk, Prof Hawkey looks back through history to some noteworthy food fads he suggests avoiding including:

• Rawism: eating only uncooked food including the Tiger diet, reportedly followed by Mel Gibson
• The Hallelujah diet: restricts the diet to fruit and seed bearing trees on the basis of Genesis 1.29
• The Hollywood Grapefruit diet: claims that grapefruit contained a fat burning enzyme
• The Atkins diet: based on the argument that low carbohydrate diets have a nutritional advantage because they stimulate gluconeogenesis from protein which burns more calories

Prof Hawkey presents his research as part of Gastro 2009, run by the British Society of Gastroenterology and the United European Gastroenterology Federation, the World Gastroenterology Organisation and the World Organisation of Digestive Endoscopy. Lord Darzi will also be presenting as he discusses the robotic surgeon as more than 12,000 scientists from around the world focus on diseases of the stomach, bowel, liver, pancreas and gallbladder. Presentations will include subjects that will affect and benefit millions of people around the world such as new endoscopic techniques, progress in the treatment of hepatitis and liver cirrhosis, digestive oncology, nutrition, inflammatory bowel disease and disorders of the oesophagus, stomach and bowel.

For more information on the congress, please refer to the following website: www.gastro2009.org.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors

1. Government figures taken from ‘Foresight: Tackling Obesities: Future Choices project’ 2007
2. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1959 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 11th -14th September 2009. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

About the British Society of Gastroenterology

The British Society of Gastroenterology is an organisation focused on the promotion of gastroenterology within the United Kingdom. It has over three thousand members drawn from the ranks of physicians, surgeons, pathologists, radiologists, scientists, nurses, dietitians, and others interested in the field. Founded in 1937 it has grown from a club to be a major force in British medicine.

For further information please contact:

Richard Gardner or Surinder Kaur Gill at Quintus Communications on 0207 340 6260 / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it