Nutrition and Behaviour

Research in this theme explores how diet and everyday health behaviours shape physical and mental health, and the biological pathways that link them. A large group of researchers study diet and disease, including how diet, obesity and nutrient availability drive cardiometabolic disease, liver disease, bone fragility in diabetes, and cancers such as leukaemia and lymphoma. Others look at how the shift from traditional to modern diets affects susceptibility to metabolic disorders, particularly in South Asian populations. A strong mechanistic strand examines how food affects the body through metabolism, inflammation, nutrient-sensing pathways, ageing and the gut microbiome, for example how microbial metabolites of dietary compounds influence immunity and brain health. Alongside this, researchers study health behaviours and how to change them: physical activity and exercise, sleep, stress, screen use, alcohol and smoking, and food choices in households and communities. This work includes public health nutrition interventions such as breastfeeding and fresh-food vouchers, and community programmes combining nutrition, exercise and peer support. 
Methods span laboratory models (stem cells, organ-on-a-chip, mouse models), genomics, multi-omics and Mendelian randomisation, large cohorts and health records, wearables and AI, through to behaviour-change science and trials.