Experts in Health

NHS Clinical Director Dr Edward Hartley shares his decades of experience working in the NHS, how its funding, structures and patients have changed over time, where the real problems lie, and how we solve them.

Dr James King talks about how obesity develops, how exercise and diet help to fight against health difficulties not just weight loss, and how drugs might be the answer to the obesity epidemic.0.00-4.33 - Intro4.34-6.14 - Prevalence of obesity within society6.15-11.16 - Genetic components11.17-16.39 - Interacting factors around energy16.40-19.49 - Compensating for consumption with exercise19.50-22.25 - Types of exercise and their benefits22.26-27.42 - “Prescribed” movement and public health27.43-29.26 - Lifestyle behaviours vs motivation29.27-31.54 - Current research31.55-35.09 - Preventative exercise to improve health35.10-39.37 - Weight loss drugs39.38-41.48 - Upcoming research41.49-42.25 - Outro

Dr Kajal Gokal talks about 20 years of evidence showing that physical activity before, during and after cancer treatment is important for health, that rest typically isn't best, and how we can get this message out to more people.0.00-6.00 - Intro6.01-10.24 - Prevention and management of cancer10.25-12.59 - Transition from ‘rest is best' ideology13.00-16.43 - Barriers within research and communication16.44-20.17 - Exercise to benefit cancer patients20.18-23.17 - How patients can access resources23.18-26.54 - Current research26.55-29.51 - Inequality across demographics within research29.52-32.10 - Further information32.11-33.49 - Outro

Independent SAGE expert Dr Duncan Robertson shares his experience during the pandemic of providing independent advice to the government about how to best communicate about health and science to the public, what we learned, and how we can do better in a future pandemic.Timestamps:0.00-3.09 - Intro3.10-4.27 - Involvement in the Independent SAGE Group4.28-7.27 - Science communication during the COVID-19 pandemic7.28-9.31 - Relationship between Independent and Government SAGE and data9.32-11.32 - What would the pandemic have looked like if the government had astrategy?11.33-13.15 - Learnings within science communication13.16-16.32 - Find the correct way to resolve issues and developing trust16.33-22.17 - Political lens and the COVID inquiry22.18-25.37 - Disinformation within policy25.38-26.29 - Advent of artificial intelligence and its repercussions26.30-32.20 - Independent SAGE and new explorations32.21-33.49 - Placing blame33.50-36.01 - Outro

Professor Lauren Sherar talks about how children are less active now than ever before and how a whole-school approach is needed – even in lessons like maths and science – to reimagine the school day to get children more physically active.0.00-2.38 - Intro2.39-5.33 - Career background5.34-13.01 - Children's physical activity and benefits of sports13.02-17.09 - Interventions in schools to increase activity levels17.10-24.12 - Teachers implementing active education24.13-28.25 - How to target less active demographics and the practicality of this28.26-32.52 - Current research explorations32.53-35.54 - Outro

Health entrepreneur Lavina Mehta MBE talks about how a career change, short-bursts physical activity and exercising for sanity not vanity took her from a corporate career to being a national ambassador for health and fitness.0.00-2.13 - Intro2.14-6.55 - Background and career6.56-15.02 - ‘Sanity, not vanity', self-care, and social connection15.03-25.33 - Asian heritage and its role in predicting health25.34-35.30 - Improving activity levels among populations35.31-40.14 - Implementing movement into your daily life and motivation40.15-44.49 - Next steps and further work44.50-46.30 - Outro

Dr Hibbah Osei-Kwasi talks about how a different approach is needed to support healthy eating for UK-based ethnic minorities and how migration presents unique challenges to promoting health diets.0.00-3.36 - Intro3.37-9.56 - Research and background of career9.57-14.20 - Dietary behaviours and observations within communities14.21-18.30 - Role of processed food and small changes 18.31-23.40 - Nutritional profile of Ghanaian food and applications to populations23.41-29.09 - Discourse around healthy eating and the deficit approach29.10-32.59 - Participant inclusivity in research, balance between culture and health33.00-37.29 - Special envoy work on behalf of Loughborough University37.30-42.39 - Outro

TV's Gregg Wallace talks about his career journey from greengrocer to TV personality to weight loss adviser. Gregg shares how he lost 5 stone and kept it off, as well as his thoughts on the viral track ‘buttery biscuit base'.0.00-2.13 - Intro2.14-3.59 - Loughborough University and Gregg Wallace Health collaboration4.00-11.51 - Background and career based around TV11.52- 16.02 - Work on MasterChef16.03-20.09 - Habits outside of work and making healthier choices20.10-22.36 Considering cultural differences when approaching food/intentional choices22.37-27.50 - Show Me Fit and GWH27.51-29.59 - Partnership with Loughborough University and Gregg Wallace Health30.00-36.15 - Moving into legislation, policy change, and equipping the population with cookery skills36.16-46.18 - Fan questions46.19-49.33 - Outro

Professor Eef Hogervorst, Professor of Biological Psychology at Loughborough University, sits down to discuss the factors influencing the menopause, what the best treatment options are, the relationship between oestrogen and dementia, and the controversies surrounding the andropause (the ‘male menopause').Time Stamps:00:00 - 06:22 - Introduction to guest, the topic and background06:23 - 07:45 - Oestrogen and its effect on dementia07:46 - 11:32 - Menopause discussion11:33 - 16:52 - Treatment vs environment: Which is more helpful with menopause?16:53 - 19:23 - Is menopause being talked about enough?19:24 - 26:39 - Andropause26:40 - 28:30 - The four-day work week and focus on mental health importance28:31 - 31:08 - Wealth and mental health31:09 - 35:38 - Current and future work35:39 - 37:26 – Outro

Dr Elisa Becker, Researcher in the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, discusses the role of disgust in protecting our health through the behavioural immune system, our relationship with eating meat and whether food packaging on animal products should go down the same path as cigarettes.Time Stamps: 00:00 - 02:56 - Introduction to guest, the topic and background 04:43 - 08:30 - What is the behavioural immune system? 08:31 - 14:01 - How does the behavioural immune system interact with food? 14:02 - 20:42 - Distaste or Disgust: What is the difference? 20:43 - 28:26 - Is disgust something you are born with, or do you learn it? 28:27 - 34:10 - Why is eating less meat becoming more popular? 34:11 - 36:36 - Should we be reducing our meat intake? 38:51 - 41:45 - Should meat be packaged to deter people from eating it? 41:46 - 44:18 - Outro

Dr Ben Roberts, Lecturer in Building Energy at Loughborough University, discusses how our houses can help or hinder our health, why air conditioning isn't always the best answer to reduce indoor heat, and how systemic building changes could transform our wellbeing.Time Stamps:00:00 - 09:27 - Introduction to guest, the topic and background09:28 - 18:45 - Loughborough University test houses and how are they being used18:46 - 23:25 - Night ventilation and ventilation maps23:26 - 28:12 - Abroad vs the UK28:13 - 32:30 - Air conditioning and staying cool32:31 - 39:45 - Impacting policy and air quality39:46 - 41:20 - Current and future work41:21 - 43:45 - Outro

Varun Shivdasani, Performance Chef at Loughborough University's Elite Athlete Centre, discusses how he prepares nutritious meals on a budget, the importance of making cooking a family-friendly activity, and the future of precision nutrition.Time Stamps: 00:00 - 03:53 - Introduction to guest, the topic and background 03:54 - 05:56 - An average week as a performance chef 05:57 - 10:09 - Performance and nutrition 10:10 - 11:52 - Setting the menu 1:53 - 16:53 - Do you need a large budget for a balanced meal? 16:54 - 26:29 - Tips for eating well 26:30 - 30:56 - Precision nutrition 30:57 - 34:05 - What's next in the world of food prep? 34:07 - 36.54 - Outro

Dr Catherine Rees, Reader in Drama at Loughborough University, discusses the various ways that applied theatre and the arts are making an unexpected but significant impact in improving the public's health and wellbeing.Time Stamps:00:00 - 03:39 - Introduction to guest, the topic and background04:55 - 07:15 - Drama and health: How are these linked?07:16 - 12:00 - How can drama help our health and wellbeing?12:01 - 17:40 - Previous uses of drama to support health and wellbeing17:41 - 21:20 - Drama being seen as a 'fluffy' subject21:21 - 27:06 - The masks we all wear and the effect they can have27:07 - 31:15 - Catherine's current projects and future work31:14 - 32:24 - The sales pitch to future generations32:25 - 32:56 - Outro

Professor Amanda Daley, Professor of Behavioural Medicine at Loughborough University, breaks down the problem with current food labelling, the potential for P.A.C.E (physical activity calorie equivalent) labelling to provide a solution, and what she thinks about all the controversies surrounding this idea.Time Stamps:0:00 - 07:20 - Introduction to guest, the topic and background07:21 - 11:50 - Current strategy on food labelling in the UK11:51 - 17:02 - Does the current strategy work or is it failing?17:03 - 19:43 - P.A.C.E labelling... What is it?19:44 - 26:56 - Where is P.A.C.E labelling going to appear if it is approved?26:57 - 28:22 - Will this be seen as the government guilt tripping people into eating healthy food?28:23 - 34:34 - Impact on people with eating or exercise disorders34:35 - 38:32 - Why is P.A.C.E different to the negative impact of calories on menus?38:33 - 43:07 - P.A.C.E controversy...43:08 - 43:51 - What will it cost to implement P.A.C.E43:51 - 45:33 - Future projects45:34 - 48:26 - Outro

Decorated athlete and sports broadcaster Colin Jackson CBE discusses his mental health struggles, his experience after coming out as gay, and the difficulties he faced when retiring from international athletics.Time Stamps:00:00 - 04:12 - Introduction to guest, the topic and background06:02 - 09:25 - Mindset as a professional athlete09:26 - 12:23 - Physical requirements required as a professional athlete12:24 - 14:00 - Managing the mental health side of being a professional athlete14:01 - 15:41 - Advice to people in managing their mental health15:42 - 19:00 - Dealing with transition to athletics retirement19:01 - 23:27 - Changes in lifestyle...23.28 - 27:19 - Coming out as gay27:20 - 28:52 - Social media and the risk it poses for health28:53 - 32:15 - Looking ahead to the future32:16 - 33:16 - Team GB and 202435:01 - 35:41 - Outro

Launching in January 2024...The Experts in Health podcast, brought to you by Loughborough University, highlights the latest research and trends in health, as we welcome a variety of guests across a host of different disciplines.