Core Group Updates


The Nutrition Society Celebrates its 70th Anniversary SARAH JAMES


Scientific Development and External Affairs Co-ordinator – The Nutrition Society


In 2011, the Nutrition Society marks its 70th anniversary. With the 24th President, Professor Sean Strain, taking up office at the AGM 2010, 2011 will see some exciting firsts for the Society. Here is a taster of just some of the things happening in the anniversary year.


In 1941, Britain was in the midst of World War II. To a nation used to importing 55 million tons of food during the 1930s, WWII saw Britain’s food supplies being stretched as the enemy blockaded the country. Many basic, everyday items were rationed such as fuel, cloth and food – including meat, milk, butter, cheese, eggs, sugar, and bread. Importing of fresh fruit was virtually stopped all together. Rationing of basic food items was designed to ensure a fair distribution to all people and prevent rapid inflation of food prices. These restrictions were introduced by the Government following the advice of nutritional scientists. The understanding of nutritional science had been increasing greatly from the beginning of the 20th century so these scientists knew enough about good nutrition to keep the public healthy despite the food shortages. A 'Vitamin Welfare Scheme' was also introduced to ensure that children and pregnant women were properly nourished by giving them free supplies of cod liver oil, blackcurrant juice, and, when available, orange juice. Around the time of all this activity, some of the most eminent nutritional scientists in Britain – some of whom had a hand in these Government schemes – came together to form The Nutrition Society.


The original purpose of the


Society was to get the scientists together to talk about exciting new research and their ideas to solve public health problems. In the early 1940s, membership was nearly 200, now it’s 2600 and is open to anyone with an interest in nutrition.


Seventy years later, although food supply in Britain isn’t currently a problem (climate change, natural disasters, foreign policy, agricultural policy, and the escalating oil price might change that), we still face challenges involving food and nutrition. The aim of the Nutrition Society remains the same, ‘to advance the scientific study of nutrition and its application to the maintenance of human and animal health’. We even still publish the same journal – the British Journal of Nutrition (although it is now fortnightly and online as well as being printed) – alongside our other journals and specialist books. Meetings remain central to the Society’s


activities, and the 70th anniversary year will be no exception. In April, the Scottish Section hosted a very successful two-day programme in Glasgow, titled ‘Nutrition and Health: from conception to adolescence’. The proceedings of which will feature in a future edition of the Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, the journal available to all Society members.


June will see the first joint event with the American Society of Nutrition, at the Irish Section meeting. The meeting, ‘Vitamins in early development and healthy ageing’ will be held at University College Cork, Ireland, from 15th – 17th June 2011. Forging exciting new affiliations with international Societies is high on Professor Strain’s agenda, and promises to bring new benefits to the membership, including joint meetings and shared journal access.


BAPEN Reports


BAPEN are continuously working as an Association, and with other likeminded Associations, to collate information and produce reports on current nutritional issues affecting hospital, community and social care. BAPEN has recently produced a number of new reports that are now available to purchase or download via the BAPEN office and website.


Reports • Annual BANS Report 2010 • Improving Nutritional Care & Treatment: Perspectives & Recommendations from Population Groups, Patients & Carers


• Combating Malnutrition: Recommendations For Action • Nutrition Screening Week 2010 Results • Malnutrition in Sheltered Housing Report • British Consensus Guidelines on Intravenous Fluid Therapy for Adult Surgical Patients - GIFTASUP


For further information, or to order a BAPEN Report, simply visit the publications section of the BAPEN website: www.bapen.org.uk/res_pub.html – order online, or contact the BAPEN office on: 01527 457 850


9 BAPEN In Touch No.61 May 2011


The flagship, Summer meeting will be held at Reading University from 4th – 6th July 2011, titled ‘From plough through practice to policy’. And a special, extended format Winter meeting will round the year off in London, at the Royal College of Physicians, under the heading ‘Body weight regulation – food, gut and brain signalling’. As the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists and course accreditation is now managed by the Association for Nutrition, an approved change to the Honorary Professional Affairs Officer role has been made. Dr Beckie Lang has kindly agreed to be seconded into this amended post, responsible for Training and Education, with her first official responsibility being a Sport and Exercise Nutrition training day in November 2011 to coincide with the launch of a brand new Nutrition Society textbook on the subject. This event will take the format of a one-day meeting and a one-day specialist training day and take place at Surrey Sports Park, Guildford.


This two-day event


promises to be a first for the Society, with similar events to be organised around the publication of new editions of the other titles in the textbook series.


Further details of all Society meetings are available on the Society’s website, www.nutritionsociety.org. If you have any comments or queries, please send them to Sarah James (s.james@nutsoc.org.uk).


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16