Things in the Library - December

Core20PLUS5 

An infographic from NHS England on reducing health inequalities for children and young people- click the link for a full size version and summary.

Critical Appraisal of Research

ScHARR, the University of Sheffield's School of Health & Related Research, are running an online course on How to Critically Appraise Research over two half days on 7th and 8th December. It will look at how to quickly read a paper and grasp its key findings, how to interpret and understand key data, how to appraise a paper’s methods and assess its usefulness and value. The course will benefit health and social care professionals, as well as researchers and information specialists. 

Early Childhood Interventions

The Institute of Fiscal Studies has published a paper on the health effects of universal early childhood interventions, in which they look at Sure Start and how their centres affect hospitalisations in their area. They compare the universal nature of Sure Start plus the UKs universal health service with targeted provision and private health care in the US. They found that hospitalisations were reduced in older children where there were more Sure Start centres.

Children's Mental Health 

In Hospitals: Over the past decade, there has been increasing need for mental health services to support children and young people. The pandemic resulted in a greater number of children and young people presenting with mental health disorders, often with complex needs requiring care or medical stabilisation, within a paediatric or acute setting. This framework from NHS England commits to ensuring children and young people, and those who look after them, are supported.

Digital tools:  This report from Oxford Academic Health Science Network identifies potential digital solutions to support NHS mental health services for children and young people. The audit of 24 digital tools and solutions covered current usage, interoperability, user experience and cost, and fit with NHS strategic priorities.

Safeguarding: The Association of Directors of Children’s Services has used data included in the ADCS Safeguarding Pressures Phase 8 research to develop a supplementary thematic report on children’s mental health. It draws together returns from 125 local authorities, 21 interviews with directors or assistant directors of children’s services and supplements this with existing data to provide further evidence of a crisis in children’s mental health. The report adds to the growing body of evidence highlighting a children’s mental health system in need of urgent attention, investment and change.

Water Fluoridation

Researchers at the Universities of Manchester and Cambridge have led a study on the effects of water fluoridation on children's dental health. The researchers found only modest benefits, however it still lowers the cost that the NHS spends on dental caries. As ever, health inequalities are key, with those in disadvantaged communities more likely to suffer poor dental health.

Parental Responsibilty

The House of Commons Library have produced a briefin report on the limits and restrictions to parental responsibility in England and Wales.

Parental responsibility is not a constant right, but diminishes as the child gets older and so can reach a sufficient understanding and intelligence of the consequences of decisions relating to them.

Things to do in Sheffield in December

Kelham Island Victorian Christmas Martket

The famous and much-loved Victorian Christmas Market returns to Kelham Island on 3rd and 4th December. There will be markets, local brass bands, musicians, choirs and carollers. There will be wonderful walkabout characters, traditional dancers and the amazing Snow Queen on stilts. Santas Grotto, Christmas crafts and miniature engine rides. There's something for everyone.

Linocut Printing and Festive Card Making

Pop along to Carousel Print Studio and learn how to use linocut to create your own festive and seasonal designs to print onto cards. This is a relaxed and fun beginners course – drawing skills aren't necessary to enjoy it.

Recipe of the Month

It's a little bit tricky being a vegetarian at Christmas - dry and tasteless nut roasts are not the one. This savoury spiced baklava is much more exciting. It's got butternut squash, chickpeas, chestnuts, feta, and harissa, and it is absolutely delicious. Thanks go to Library Manager Sarah Massey for making this, bringing it in and letting me try it.

Things in the library 15th October...

 Things about teeth... 

A national protocol has been published which aligns with the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry (BASCD) diagnostic criteria for caries prevalence surveys and guidance on sampling for surveys of child dental health.

Things about sexual abuse... 

NSPCC Learning has released a podcast discussing the absence of black girl's experiences of child sexual abuse in research and practice. The podcast discusses why the experiences of black girls is missing from the research and the impact that this has on policy and practice; key findings from research; and learning to improve practice and research. This episode contains quotes from research participants about their experiences which might be upsetting and cause distress.

Things about Health Inequalities...

The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities launched recently, putting prevention at the heart to help people live longer, healthier and happier lives.

• The new body will tackle health disparities across the UK which mean men in the most deprived areas in England are expected to live nearly 10 years fewer than those in the least deprived
• Preventing health conditions before they develop will reduce pressure on the health and care system
• Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, will provide professional leadership to OHID

Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty said:

• Health inequalities in England are stark and they are challenging to address but it is important we do so.

• People across the country can live in better health for longer. OHID will support people to do so with an evidence based approach.

• Reducing health inequalities and keeping people in better health for longer is in everyone’s interest – it is good for the individual, families, society, the economy and NHS. That’s why OHID will work collaboratively across the national, regional and local levels as well as with the NHS, academia, the third sector, scientists, researchers and industry.”

Things for half-term... 

Awesome Owls at Weston Park Museum Tuesday 26th October - a chance to look up-close at some of their taxidermied owls, and create some of your own artwork inspired by your favourite species.

Things about cake... 

Since it has been mostly virtual, we all miss the most important thing that happens in Journal Club...Sarah's home-baked muffins. So it was no surprise to read this article recently in 'Archives of Disease in Childhood - Education and Practice'  about Quality Improvement from staff at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS FT "Busy can be happy: ‘Cake Thursday’ as a team bonding exercise" .  Free access to the article via your NHS Athens Account

All good things must come to an end...

So off I go after many happy years working here with fantastic colleagues Sarah & Kate (and formerly Jo and Jaq). It has been a great privilege to work here both as a member of University of Sheffield staff and latterly as a member of SCH staff. Throughout my career I have been fortunate to work with lovely people from being a 6th form Saturday Assistant at Dronfield Library  (the only time in my career when my salary has been the envy of my friends); my time at the Faculty of Art & Design, Psalter Lane (where the time spent looking at the books means I can usually get the correct answers to the art questions on University Challenge, but more importantly I developed an appreciation of art and design); the Health Promotion Library in Leicester and the Libraries at Birkdale Senior and Prep School (not so enjoyable on wet lunchtimes when teenage boys in wool jackets was not a pleasant aroma)!  

Plans to travel in Europe are on hold for the moment but I don't think I will be short of things to do and will always be able to curl up with a good book and walk in our glorious Peak District.

Thank you to everyone for their good wishes and such generous goodbye gift...and I leave you all with a artwork I have commissioned from artist Sarah Featherstone telling a little of the story of Illingworth Library over the last 70 years and what we do currently. Come up to the library to see it and admire the detail.

FeastRabbit was formed by Sarah Featherstone during the lockdown. Sarah is a trained jeweller and a graduate of Sheffield Hallam University’s design department. Although she now works as a Reception teacher, she enjoys making jewellery, and during the pandemic revived a longstanding love of working with polymer clay. Her work often features tiny replicas of food, scenes and animals. Sarah is based in Sheffield and undertakes commissions, or you can find her work if you search for feastrabbit on Etsy.

Thank you, Goodbye and God Bless.

Gill Kaye

The blog will be back under new management as soon as possible.

Things in the library 24 Sept...

 Things about health... 

The fourth annual profile combining data and knowledge with information from other sources to give a broad picture of the health of people in England in 2021. Includes sections on Child Health and also the effect COVID-19 has had on health in England.

Things coming soon... 

The interviews were held for my replacement this week so, providing all the paperwork goes through correctly, an excellent new member of staff will be joining the library with good experience of doing this type of job. I am sure you will make them feel very welcome. They will also lower the average age of the library staff ! 

Things about adoption... 

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Adoption and Permanence has published a report looking at the experiences and needs of adopted children and their families. Findings include: a child’s needs must be comprehensively assessed and form the basis of a support plan that is put in place from the start; support for families should be proactively provided to meet their needs; children’s continuing relationships with former foster carers, social workers, birth family members and their local community can be critical to placement stability; and adopted children require ongoing and evolving support throughout their childhoods.

Things about bread... 

The addition of folic acid to food has been a successful public health policy in a number of countries worldwide such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada, resulting in falls in neural tube defects. Folic acid will be added to non-wholemeal wheat flour across the UK to help prevent life-threatening spinal conditions in babies, the government and devolved administrations have announced.

Adding folic acid will mean foods made with flour, such as bread, will actively help avoid around 200 neural tube defects each year – around 20% of the annual UK total.

Things about safeguarding... 

The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel has published a review of the circumstances involved in cases where babies under-one-year-old have been harmed or killed by their fathers or other males in a caring role. 

Findings include: a range of risk factors were common in many of the cases, a lack of information sharing was a key factor that prevented practitioners from responding to risk to babies, and many services aimed at new parents are predominantly focused on the mother. 

Recommendations include: the government should fund pilots to develop holistic work with fathers and the engagement of fathers must be embedded in prospective and current family-focused programmes. NSPCC Learning has published a CASPAR briefing summarising learning from the review.

Things about getting to school... 

Children who walk or cycle to school may have a healthier body weight than those who arrive by car. A new study followed more than 8,000 schoolchildren over a period of years. The findings showed that even using public transport instead of taking the car led to a reduction in body fat.

It is widely accepted that physical activity helps people of all ages stay at a healthy weight. Walking or cycling (active travel) to school is likely to help children achieve this but, before this study, there was a lack of adequate evidence.

As children get older, they become more independent and often have more choices about how they get to school. Researchers found that children who switched to walking and cycling to school between the ages of 7 and 14 had healthier body weights than those who continued to travel by car. The findings also suggest that the beneficial effects of walking or cycling may be greater for children from the most deprived areas. 

Obesity is a major public health problem in the UK. More than one in five children in the last year of primary school are overweight and as a result are likely to have poorer physical and mental health.

This research underlines the importance of encouraging active travel. This means providing safe and effective infrastructure to encourage people to walk, cycle, or use public transport. Finding ways of supporting children and families from lower income households to walk or cycle could help these groups overcome some of the health inequalities they face. 

Things to make... 

I do love Autumn (by retiring in Autumn my plan was always to visit New England during the Fall ... maybe one day)  and it's nice to get the nip in the air to prompt me to cook some suitable autumnal food. This vegetarian lasagne is a lovely recipe I have made before and will be featuring in next week's menu at our house. 

Things in the library 17th Sept...

 Things watery... 

The Waterfront Festival returns on Saturday 18 September, with many stalls, events, and activities planned at both Victoria Quays and Attercliffe Don Valley Moorings.  The free event runs from 10am to 4pm at Victoria Quays, and 11am to 3pm in Attercliffe. It will see live music and street performances, boat trips, canoe and paddle boarding taster sessions, stalls and street food. There will also be guided walks, including taking in the canal’s Street Art Trail.

Things foodie... 

The Harvest Fayre is a celebration of Sheffield food and drink and takes place this weekend Sat18 and Sunday 19 in the City Centre 10am – 6pm both days.  Free admission. It features food producers and businesses from around Sheffield and further afield, bringing a range of vegetables, fruits, spices, preserves, oils, cakes, cookery books, craft beers, gins, cakes and much more for you to  enjoy.

Things about Social Care... 

If you want to read the full health and social care plan announced recently by the government - this is a link to the document.

Things about Black History... 

October is Black History month and there are resources and information available on this website. One of the events planned is 'Explore Your Nursing Family History' (Virtual Event). This session is open to everyone, but will be especially interesting to people of colour looking to find out more about the history of their families. Sign up to attend and a Zoom link will be sent to you before the event.

Things about COVID-19 vaccinations for children... 

A statement from RCPCH about this topic in response to the recommendation from the four UK Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) regarding offering COVID-19 vaccinations to all 12-15 year olds. 

Things about transgender children...

Farrer & Co has released a two-part podcast offering guidance on the law, best practice and how to effectively safeguard transgender children and young people.

Things to make... 

If you have family members going off this weekend to be students then they may need simple recipes to cook with limited equipment and a small budget. There is a nice selection here - but of course anyone can make them not just students! Started by students at the University of Portsmouth in 2015, The Student Food Project has since grown into one of the worlds leading student recipe websites.

Student Food wanted to show students how easy it is to cook an amazing meal with fresh ingredients. Their recipes are designed to be easy to follow, quick to make and cost-effective. This Sausage and Ratatouille Casserole sounds perfect - don't forget to remind them to put the dish to soak before they try to wash it! You don't want it to still be there when you pick them up at Christmas.

Things in the library 23 April...

 Things that are 70...

As you may recall last year was our 70th birthday...celebrations sadly curtailed or cancelled, though we did create an online quiz or similar for each month of the year. However another 70th birthday to be celebrated is that of the Peak District - that glorious resource we are so fortunate to which we have easy access. The Peak District was the first of Britain’s 15 national parks and was designated on 17th April, 1951. It covers 555 sq miles (1,438km) in the heart of England (that’s about the size of Greater London). 

Some interesting facts:

• The lead for white paint in Vermeer’s painting of Girl with a Pearl Earring came from the Peak District.
• Peak District reservoirs supply surrounding towns and cities with 450 million litres of water each day. 
• Peak District blanket peat bogs act as a ‘carbon reservoir’ that locks in CO² - it’s almost as effective at combating global warming as the tropical rainforests. [Please buy peat free garden compost!]
• Mountain hares; the only UK population outside the Scottish highlands

Poet and recording artist Mark Gwynne Jones is creating a series of audio artworks to celebrate the 70th birthday of the Peak District National Park the third chapter will be released on 24 April, 2021.

Things for free... 

Today is World Book Night and we have been able to obtain some of the free books to distribute - going like hot cakes but still some available in the library; come and pick one up, read it and then pass it on. The book we have available is Stories to make you smile - a seriously entertaining collection of feelgood stories guaranteed to put the smile back on your face written especially by ten bestselling novelists.

Things about research with children... 

NatCen has published a blog based on their qualitative study looking at the feasibility of conducting research with children on child abuse. The research included interviews with professionals, children and parents and guardians and found that participants agreed a survey on child abuse completed by children would have societal and individual benefits. It also identified a range of issues that would need to be carefully thought through before piloting or administering a survey of this nature, to minimise the risk that children would be negatively impacted by taking part.

Things about food poverty... 

The House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee has published a report following an inquiry looking at food poverty. The report estimates that 1.7 million children live in households without reliable access to sufficient affordable and nutritious food in the UK.  Recommendations to government include: the introduction of a Food Security Minister to ensure all relevant departments prioritise the issue of food insecurity; and ensuring that families with children eligible for free school meals continue to be able to feed their children.

Things about Reading Group... 

The Reading Group for SCH staff (and also some former staff and University staff) has been going since 2017 and didn't miss a beat when the pandemic struck, so we currently meet online. It works well and although it's not the same as being able to sit in a group to chat along with a drink and some nibbles it is a lovely group of people. If you want to be included in the mailing list for the books we are reading please contact the library. Our next book is 'The Midnight Library' on 5th May. If you want to see the books we have read previously and what we thought about them follow this link.

Things about e-books... 

We have access to e-books through national NHS collections as mentioned here last week but we also have some medical e-books which we purchase ourselves. These can be accessed for free via your NHS Open Athens account and if there is a particular book that would be useful for your team then please check out if it is already available to you or ask us if you would like to consider purchasing it. You can also request to 'borrow' a book for a short time if you don't think buying it is appropriate. Last year SCH staff used 31 titles, downloaded 6 books and 2 chapters. Items that we have already bought will be listed in our normal library catalogue and from the search page there is also another link to the Proquest e-book library as above. 

Things to make...

To celebrate St George's Day today how about tackling a traditional Yorkshire dish ...  a Yorkshire curd tart. If making pastry isn't your thing then you could buy ready made pastry - the filling is actually really easy but you need to prepare the curds overnight and use full-fat milk.

Things in the library 16th April...

 Things about diversity... 

A new range of e-books about diversity, provided by HEE, have been added to the library catalogue. Some excellent titles that may be of interest to you. The details are on this link and you will need to sign in with your NHS Open Athens account to access them for free. If you don't have an Athens account and you work for the NHS then please sign up here.

Things about serious case reviews... 

The NSPCC catalogue serious case reviews so you can easily find them in one place if you need to. This link takes you to the ones published in March 2021. If you click on the title of each one you will find a brief summary of the case and the findings and also a link to the free full report. You can also search for other past reviews there or our own catalogue for ones relating to Sheffield area.

Things about depression... 

I spotted an interesting article this week "Association between Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Depression Symptoms in Young People and Adults Aged 15-45: A Systematic Review of Cohort Studies". Despite some reservations about some of the studies, the authors conclude that evidence seems to be building that a possible association exists, and this may have implications for addressing the burden of mental illness in young people and adults aged 15-45 years. 

Things about modern slavery... 

The Home Office has updated the statutory guidance on identifying and supporting victims of modern slavery. It describes the signs that someone may be a victim of modern slavery, the support available to victims, and the process for determining whether someone is a victim.

Things about looked after children... 

The Mayor of London has published a protocol setting out the roles and responsibilities of groups involved in the care of looked-after children and care leavers in reducing their involvement in crime. The protocol covers: children’s home carers; foster parents; police officers; the Crown Prosecution Service; health services and local authorities. The organisations who have signed the protocol have agreed: that diversion from the criminal justice system should be at the heart of any response to offending behaviour; to listen and learn from children and young people; and ask ‘would this response be good enough for my child?’

Things to attend...

There are a wide range of events available to the public via the University of Sheffield. This page lists the upcoming ones including: history, science, libraries of the future, mental health for NHS, patient reported outcome measures and vegetables for pre-school children. 

Things to make... 

Plenty of al-fresco dining going on I expect at the moment with some meeting possible in gardens. This is a great sharing meal to make Roasted ratatouille & goat’s cheese tart - check the comments as some people have found the mixture larger in quantity...or perhaps they need a bigger tin to cook it. 

Things in the library 5th March...

Things for children... 

If you are looking for new books for your children then you might be interested in the recently announced longlists for the 2021 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals. The Medals celebrate outstanding achievement in children’s writing and illustration respectively and are unique in being judged by children’s librarians, with the Shadowers’ Choice Award voted for by children and young people. 40 titles have been longlisted for the 2021 Medals (20 on each longlist) selected from a total of 152 nominations, read by an expert volunteer team of 15 children’s and youth librarians from across the UK.

More things about books... 

Yesterday was World Book Day and this link was suggested to us by a member of staff as there are many activities people might be interested in for their children. 

We have been fortunate to obtain some books to give away for World Book Night in April-  we will announce how they will be available as soon as we can.

Things to attend online... 

ScHARR are changing some of their courses to an online format. Please find links to their online courses below, as well as their usual face-to-face programme. Please contact them directly if you want more information or to book.

ScHARR SHORT COURSES: January - 31st July 2021

• Now ONLINE: An Introduction to using Social Media to Communicate Research : 27th – 28th April 2021 (2 x half-days) ; Fees £149

• Now ONLINE: Developing Complex Interventions to Improve Health (NEW for 2021): 17th March 2021 (one day); Fees £199 (online version) **Course full** Waiting list in operation. Date for next 2021 intake tbc. 
• Now ONLINE: Introduction to Stata : On demand between 19th April - 16th May 2021 (4 x half days) : Fees tbc
• Now ONLINE: How to Quickly Synthesise Research : 21st – 22nd April 2021 (2 x half days) ; Fees £149
• Now ONLINE: ScHARR Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis : 10th – 11th May AND 17th – 18th May (4 x half days) : Fees £499
• Introduction to 'R' : 2021 date and delivery method TBC ; Fees TBC
• The Identification and Review of Evidence to Inform Cost Effectiveness Models : 2021 date and delivery method TBC ; Fees TBC
• Rapid Review Methods : 2021 date and delivery method TBC ; Fees TBC
• Cluster Randomised Trials Design and Analysis (NEW) : 2021 date and delivery method TBC ; Fees TBC
• Utility Data for Health Technology Assessment : 2021 date and delivery method TBC ; Fees TBC
• Mixed-methods Approaches To Evidence Research in Europe (MASTERIE) : 2021 date and delivery method TBC ; Fees TBC
• Systematic Approaches to Searching for Evidence (NEW) : 2021 date and delivery method TBC ; Fees TBC
• Scoping Reviews, Mapping Reviews and Evidence Gap Maps (NEW) : 2021 date and delivery method TBC ; Fees TBC
• Introduction to Meta-analysis (NEW) : 2021 date and delivery method TBC ; Fees TBC

Things about long Covid... 

Long COVID is defined as “signs and symptoms that develop during or following an infection consistent with COVID-19 that continue for more than 12 weeks and are not explained by an alternative diagnosis.”

The Long Covid: Post Covid syndrome section of  the Health Education England, Knowledge and Library Services website signposts information from physiotherapists, occupational therapists, post-Covid fatigue booklets and exercise plans as well as ways to support emotional wellbeing.

Things about paediatrics... 

In February The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) published a report setting out their vision for the future of paediatrics in the UK focusing on four areas - data, innovation, models of care and working lives. The report is the result of discussions with paediatricians, other health colleagues and nearly 900 children and young people across all four nations. The report forecasts increases in mental health, substance use and the consequences of prematurity for adolescents and young adults over the next 20 years. Children and young people were asked what their top priorities and ideas for paediatrics in the next 20 years would be. Suggestions include supporting people with their mental health, improving and learning from mental health support during the Covid-19 pandemic and  working with children to find new ways to explain things, using child friendly language and helping children to learn about topics like LGBTQ+, eating disorders, drugs and alcohol.

Things about going back to school... 

NSPCC Learning has updated its content to help support children and young people in the UK who are transitioning back to school. Topics covered include: safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures; recognising and responding to concerns; the impact of coronavirus on children’s mental health; and supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing.

Things to eat... 

This is on my list of recipes to try soon as I love Middle East flavours (and I have a bag of pomegranate seeds in the freezer bought as an experiment to see what they are like!). This Harissa cauliflower pilaf is vegan/vegetarian and cooks in the oven.

Things in the library 26 Feb...

 Things to join...

I don't know where February has gone but already it is nearly time for the next Reading Group meeting. This month we are discussing Ben Elton's 'High Society' about the pervasive nature of illegal drugs within society. If you want to join us please contact the library for the link - we meet online on the first Wednesday of every month at 18:30 for about 1 hour.  Our next book will be 'Once upon a River' by Diane Setterfield. 

Things about digital technology... 

Digital technology can support the NHS to deliver high quality specialist care more efficiently. To achieve these digital advances, the right environment for innovation, education and collaboration needs to exist. On the 24 March there is an event as part of National Health Executive's NHE365 Festival  'Achieving Digital Efficiency' - a topic in which has been a top priority during the global pandemic.

Things online...

As well as Reading Group going online we have developed more of our training to be available in this way and this could be something we continue even after the pandemic. It is useful for people based away from the Acute site of the hospital and hopefully will also reduce the number of people not turning up for booked training.

We now run our popular Critical Appraisal Course online. Please email the library if you would like to participate. There needs to be a commitment from participants to engage with all three elements of the course.

Virtual Critical Appraisal Course (SCH employees only)

The course is in 3 parts and all 3 must be completed, a certificate is awarded on completion

Part 1 Course slides and workbook

Part 2 Article appraisal

Part 3 Microsoft teams meeting to discuss workbook answers and article appraisal

Things about Girls... 

For over a decade, Girlguiding’s research has captured girls’ and young women’s lives, highlighting their views, experiences, and the challenges they face. From gender stereotypes to body image concerns, girls and young women continue to face unequal pressures and barriers to living confident and full lives. Now, as well as these, they are confronting the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. It has radically changed their lives and opportunities and shaped their perspectives. Through this recent publication 'Back in lockdown: Girls’ and young women’s hopes and fears for the future', girls’ and young women’s voices reveal how they’re coping with the profound changes that have occurred in their lives over the past year. They tell us about the things they’re finding hard, what they’re concerned about and their hopes for the future. This research builds on the Girlguiding's previous survey with girls and young women in May 2020. 

Things about SEN... 

This House of Commons Library briefing sets out the system of support for children and young people in England aged 0-25 with special educational needs (SEN). The briefing provides an overview of the new system introduced in 2014, the transitional arrangements, and how the new system differs from that which preceded it. It also includes a brief history of the movement towards reform that preceded the 2014 changes, and information on the impact of the new system available to date.

Things about carbs and fats... 

A recent study in Nature Medicine was highlighted recently by NIH Research Matters.  The amount and types of food available to the average person have changed over time. These changes are believed to contribute to the rise in obesity by promoting increased calorie intake. Excess weight can cause various health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. 

There has been a great deal of debate over what aspects of our food have promoted obesity. High carbohydrates are believed to result in large swings in your body’s insulin levels, which may cause increased hunger and calorie consumption. High-fat foods may promote increased calorie consumption because they contain more calories per bite and can leave you feeling less full. 

In the research when on the low-fat diet, the participants ate 550 to 700 fewer calories per day than when on the low-carb diet. Despite the large differences in calorie intake, they reported no differences in hunger, enjoyment of meals, or fullness between the two diets.

People lost weight on both diets, but only the low-fat diet led to a significant loss of body fat. The low-fat diet resulted in higher blood glucose and insulin levels compared with the low-carb diet. This is a concern because variable glucose levels can be a risk factor for coronary artery disease.

“Interestingly, our findings suggest benefits to both diets, at least in the short-term. While the low-fat, plant-based diet helps curb appetite, the animal-based, low-carb diet resulted in lower and more steady insulin and glucose levels,” Hall says. “We don’t yet know if these differences would be sustained over the long term.”

The researchers note that the study was not designed to make diet recommendations for weight loss. Results may have been different if the participants were actively trying to lose weight. Further, results may be different outside the lab, in which all meals were prepared and provided in a tightly controlled clinical environment. Factors such as food costs, food availability, and meal preparation constraints can make adherence to diets challenging.

Things about digital resilience... 

NSPCC Learning has released a podcast looking at the NSPCC's InCtrl service, designed to prevent technology-assisted child sexual abuse by supporting children and young people to build digital resilience. The podcast discusses: concerns that lead to children being referred to InCtrl; how practitioners work with young people on their online behaviour; the importance of involving parents and carers; and how children and young people’s views have been incorporated into the development and implementation of the service. Listen to the podcast or read the transcript : Building children and young people’s digital resilience

Things to make...

A beautiful spring-like day today but still cold. So a perfect meal would be this vibrant  Green pesto minestrone which is really easy to make.