Nudge-it is a European Commission-funded FP7 project bringing together dozens of scientists from 16 institutions across six European countries, the US and New Zealand. The project engages internationally leading experts in the neurobiology of motivational behaviour, reward and regulation of appetite, experimental psychology, functional brain imaging, behavioural economics and computational modelling. The project will develop innovative tools that link understanding across these interacting disciplines. The overall aim is to better understand decision-making in food choice and to build predictive models to contribute to improving public health policy.
Nudge-it report on Tailored Toolboxes to promote healthier food choice
A report by the World Health Organization (2009) points out that nutrition is coming to the fore as a major modifiable determinant of chronic disease. Scientific evidence is increasingly supporting the view that alterations in diet can have strong effects, both positive and negative, on health over a lifetime. But how do we support people to make healthier dietary choices, particularly those who are at the lower end of the income distribution and educational ladder, and seem to be particularly vulnerable to obesity?
One of the main goals of the Nudge-it One of the main goals of the Nudge-it consortium is to develop tools to support the analysis and identification of biological, psychological, cognitive, and environmental mechanisms determining dietary choices. The present report compiles the main results of our research on possible anchors for policy intervention that were identified by the partners of the consortium. These anchors are the basis for a toolbox of seven different candidate policies to be applied, adapted, and optimized regarding the different behavioural targets as well as the different target groups. Read the full report
The Science of Weight Loss
A new Massive Open Online Course is being run by the University of Newcastle, Austalia.
About this course
Whether you are trying to lose weight yourself, or are supporting others, this food and nutrition course will dispel common myths about weight loss and teach you the science behind healthy eating for a healthy weight.
This course is not a diet plan – there are plenty of diet plans out there to choose from. Rather, we will take you through the science behind weight loss and arm you with the knowledge and tools to make the right decisions.
Based on the latest research, you’ll learn to develop a healthy eating plan to achieve a healthy weight. You’ll also discover more about the definition of a healthy weight, the nutritional composition of foods, how to cut calories or kilojoules, proper portion sizes, and how to identify and avoid fad diets.
The Heart of the Brain: The Hypothalamus and Its Hormones
A new book by our project co-ordinator Gareth Leng. Find out more
Videos by our Early Stage Researchers
At the recent Nudge-it meeting in Florence, our early stage researchers took part in a training workshop on public engagement and science communication. As part of the workshop they produced short videos explaining their work.
You can view the videos by clicking on the title.
Mood and Food. Amy Warnock, University of Edinburgh
Behavioural Economics and Food choices. Nicolai Vitt and Martina Vecchi, European University Institute
How do we decide what to eat. Marie Le May, Fiona Peris Sampedro, Christian Edvardson,Gothenburg University
MRI Food Scientist. Guido Camps, University of Wageningen
Stress and Food choices. Silvia Maier, University of Zurich
Behavioural Public Policy. Jan Michael Bauer, Copenhagen Business School
The Neurobiology of Food Choices. Lisa Horstman, Karl Eberhards University Tuebingen
Food Choice is Complex. Tuki Attuquayefio, Annie Zimmerman, University of Bristol
BBC iWonder - What's making me eat too much?
The article, made in conjunction with Professor Jeff Brunstrom and the team at the University of Bristol, explores how decisions on how much we eat are governed by many subtle influences.
Check out the BBC iWonder article: What's making me eat too much
Try the questions - you may be surprised by your answers!
Nudge-it is co-ordinated from the University of Edinburgh School of Biomedical Sciences by Professor Gareth Leng
