News
Study shows increasing ‘healthy competition’ between menu options nudges patients towards greener, lower-fat hospital food choices
New research has shown hospital patients could reduce the carbon footprint and saturated fat content of their selected meals by up to almost a third – if the weekly menu featuring the same dishes is cleverly reorganised. The study, led by the University of Bristol, features in a special…
Space for play is being ‘designed-out’ of urban childhoods
Children growing up in British cities face barriers to safe, playable spaces as financial constraints, policy misalignment and housing pressures cause planners to prioritise property over parks, according to a new study involving Bristol BRC researchers. Published in Cities and Health, the study – part of the Play…
South Asian men share experiences to support prostate cancer research
A recent community workshop brought together South Asian men in Bristol to talk openly about prostate cancer – a topic often described as taboo in their communities. The event held at Wellspring Settlement near the University of Bristol’s Barton Hill micro-campus, was organised in collaboration with community partners CAAFI Health. It…
The role of social context in promoting physical activity in primary schools
A new study has highlighted the difficulties primary schools face in promoting physical activity, and the specific role the social context of a school plays in this. Pressure to deliver the curriculum means schools may rely on staff who are passionate about sport to promote physical activity, and schools with…
Researchers discover tantalisingly ‘sneaky’ way to help diners make healthier, greener menu choices
Pioneering research has uncovered a cunning way to curry favour with diners’ food choices, so they’re more likely to select meals which have a much lower carbon footprint and reduced fat content. This Bristol BRC study, led by the University of Bristol and published today [11 August] in…
Primary schools can play to their strengths in boosting child physical activity
A 4 month rapid ethnography study in 3 primary schools across Bristol reveals that “one‐size‐fits‐all” physical activity strategies will fall short. Schools differ widely in culture, resources, and objectives, meaning they need tailored, context‑specific physical activity interventions, according to the study results, published in BMC Public Health. Led by…
University experts team up with Team GB hockey Olympian to make school PE kits fitter for purpose and put ball in pupils’ court
Top researchers have united with Team GB hockey player and sports inclusivity trailblazer Tess Howard MBE on a mission to help teenage girls feel more comfortable in their school PE uniforms – and own bodies – in a bid to boost self-confidence and sports participation. Physical activity and diet specialist…
Childhood waist to height ratio may be an equally good predictor as BMI of liver disease and high blood pressure in young adults
How a child’s waist size compares to their height may be an equally good tool to predict serious health problems later in life, including liver disease and high blood pressure, as traditional body mass index (BMI) according to a new study. The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)…
Exploring links between carbohydrate counting and eating disorders in people with type 1 diabetes
Evidence suggests that people with type 1 diabetes who count carbohydrates are less likely to experience eating disorders, according to a recent review of past studies. But this review also found significant gaps in the research, particularly in the way carbohydrate counting is measured. The review, led by Bristol BRC…