The College of Medicine has partnered with ITN Productions Industry News to make The Food Manifesto, a series of short programmes that focus on the importance of having a healthy lifestyle.
Speaking to news anchor Belle Donati, The College of Medicine’s Chair, Dr Michael Dixon, told the programme that factors such as affordability of nutritious food, self-care and community are hugely important when it comes to maintaining health – and the possible prevention of disease.
CLICK BELOW TO WATCH ALL THE VIDEOS IN THE FOOD MANIFESTO
Dr Dixon explained why poverty is still one of the biggest factors in poor health. He said: ‘Affordability is a big issue – we know that the ten per cent poorest of the UK population are those that eat half the amount of fruit and vegetables of anyone else.
“We also know that if those enduring social deprivation were to have the ideal ‘eat well’ plate, they’d be spending 75 per cent of their income.”
The College of Medicine Chair added that the pandemic has reiterated the importance of maintaining a healthy weight; Covid patients with Type 2 diabetes and those who were obese were more likely to be hospitalised after being infected with the virus.
The programme examines too the role of the gut microbiome in health, nutrition and supplements, as well as putting big companies under the microscope to find out how they’re playing a part in better health for everyone.
It shines a spotlight on the changes necessary from healthcare professionals to improve patient outcomes now and for future pandemics and discusses the importance of new science, patient empowerment, integrated health and community connection to create a more sustainable healthcare system.
Discussing the College of Medicine’s 2021 manifesto Hope for the Future, Dr Dixon said he hoped that medicine will now ‘go beyond pills and procedures’.
He explained: “I hope that we’ll start looking much more seriously at our diet, our exercise and the way we look after each other in our communities.
“The future is about self-care and connection, connection with ourselves and connection with our community.
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