Fat Britain
Tuesday 30 October, 19.00-20.30
Britain is getting fatter and it is predicted that in 15 years 86 per cent of men will be overweight. Are we to blame? Are our Government, our food manufacturers or our town planners? What should be done and by whom? Join our invited guests, including contributors to the Government’s latest report, to debate the ethics of the epidemic.
Speakers
Louise Diss, Obesity counsellor
Susan Jebb, Head of Nutrition and Health Research, Medical Research Council.
Harald Schmidt, Assistant Director, Nuffield Council on Bioethics.
Facilitator
Vivienne Parry, broadcaster and journalist.
Louise Diss
I have a wealth of experience of working in the public and voluntary sectors as a psychiatric social worker and trainer. Prior to taking up my previous post as development worker for Toast I worked as an obesity counsellor and, with personal experience of obesity, I have a clear understanding of the physical and emotional effects that obesity can have on individuals.
Susan Jebb
I trained in nutrition and dietetics prior to a PhD at the MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit. I have a particular interest in the role of dietary factors in the aetiology and treatment of obesity and its related metabolic diseases, and my research team specialises in highly controlled dietary intervention studies. I also lead the Communication team, which focuses on the translation of nutrition science into policy and practice, working with policymakers, industry, health professionals, NGOs and the media.
I am Chair of the Department of Health Interim Expert Group on Obesity, Expert Adviser to the Cabinet Office Strategy Review on Food and a member of the FSA Expert Review Panel on Nutrient Profiling.
Harald Schmidt
I studied philosophy, history and linguistics at the Universities of Bremen, Oxford and Muenster. Since May 2002 I have been Assistant Director of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics. My work is centred around organising and running Working Parties and representing the Council to professional bodies and the public. My most recent project at the Council concerns a report on the ethics of public health. Current personal research interests concern individual responsibility for health (part-time PhD at the LSE, Social Policy and Philosophy Department).
Vivienne Parry
I am a writer and broadcaster, and am a scientist by training. I write and host many series for Radio 4 including 'Am I Normal?' and 'Inside the Ethics Committee', and I am the medical science columnist of the 'Times' Body and Soul section. I have previously presented 'Tomorrow's World', reported for 'Panorama' and been a columnist for the 'News of the World'. I'm the writer in residence of the Foresight Tackling Obesities project.
