Science Weekly - 15th Aug 2020

This past week the focus has been on the importance of diets in nutrition science and we also have two intriguing papers in sports, one on the causes of higher risks of stress fractures in female runners and one from the world of cricket.

The highlights:
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• ​​Experts urge evaluation of diet at routine check-ups
• ​Non-fasting blood test can help screen youth for prediabetes and diabetes
• ​Confused by whole grain labels on food packaging? Study finds you're not alone
• ​Gulf war illness, chronic fatigue syndrome distinct illnesses, study suggests
• ​Cricket umpires fumble on T20 calls
• ​Causes of higher risk of stress fractures in female runners
• Nutrition labelling is improving nation's diet
• ​TV-watching snackers beware: You won't notice you're full if your attention is elsewhere
• ​Exercise induces secretion of biomarkers into sweat
• ​Strict diet explains metabolic effect of gastric bypass surgery
• ​Adding a meter between meals boosts vegetarian appeal

Experts urge evaluation of diet at routine check-ups

Unhealthy dietary patterns are a leading cause of heart disease and stroke as well as other chronic diseases. Clinician-delivered diet counseling can improve diet behaviors and heart disease risk factors. Quick, simple dietary assessment tools can be a part of routine office visits and integrated into electronic health records for follow-up.

Source: American Heart Association

Non-fasting blood test can help screen youth for prediabetes and diabetes

A simple blood test that does not require overnight fasting has been found to be an accurate screening tool for identifying youth at risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease risk later in life.

Source: Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health

Confused by whole grain labels on food packaging? Study finds you're not alone

Researchers say results provide legal evidence for proposed changes in labeling regulations
​Whole grain labels are confusing to consumers, according to a new study that found many made the wrong choice when asked to pick the healthier option based on product labels. The researchers say the results provide legal evidence for changes in labeling policies.

Source: Tufts University, Health Sciences Campus

Gulf war illness, chronic fatigue syndrome distinct illnesses, study suggests

A brain imaging study of veterans with Gulf War illness (GWI) and patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) (sometimes called myalgic encephalomyelitis), has shown that the two illnesses produce distinctly different, abnormal patterns of brain activity after moderate exercise.

Source: Georgetown University Medical Center

Cricket umpires fumble on T20 calls

Cricket umpires struggle to please everyone at the best of time but the different formats of the game make it even harder for them, especially when it comes to LBW decisions.

Source: Queensland University of Technology

Causes of higher risk of stress fractures in female runners

A pair of new studies identify overlooked physiological factors and lack of knowledge around wellness as contributors to risk of stress fracture in women who run.

Source: Thomas Jefferson University

Nutrition labelling is improving nation's diet

Households eat more healthily when retailers display clear nutritional information on own-brand food products, say researchers.

Source: University of Bath

TV-watching snackers beware: You won't notice you're full if your attention is elsewhere

Eating while doing something perceptually-demanding makes it more difficult to notice when you feel full, shows new research.

Source: University of Sussex

Exercise induces secretion of biomarkers into sweat

A new study shows that in addition to blood, endurance exercise induces changes in sweat biomolecule levels
​The aim was to reveal the potential of microRNAs in sweat extracellular vesicles in monitoring exercise performance.

Source: University of Jyväskylä - Jyväskylän yliopisto

Strict diet explains metabolic effect of gastric bypass surgery

In many studies, bariatric surgery has been highlighted as an almost magical method for weight loss and reversing type 2 diabetes. One question that has remained largely unanswered is how the effect of surgery differs from the effects of a strict low-calorie diet.

Source: Lund University

Adding a meter between meals boosts vegetarian appeal

Researchers have identified the optimal dish positions to help ''nudge'' diners into picking more planet-friendly meals in cafeterias.

Source: University of Cambridge