Current Aim
To gain confirmation from each UK based medical school that they will commit to increasing nutrition and lifestyle education within their medical school curricula as soon as possible.
To gain confirmation from each UK based medical school that they will commit to increasing nutrition and lifestyle education within their medical school curricula as soon as possible.
To create an innovative hub of information and educational resources for food, nutrition and lifestyle medicine, that will empower medical and healthcare professionals to advise and inform their patient communities to live healthier lives. Watch our videos above to find out more.
We’re thrilled to be supported by the following organisations:
Not enough time spent educating medical students and doctors in nutrition.
Doctors don’t feel confident discussing nutrition with patients.
Not discussing nutrition with patients is a missed opportunity.
Medical School Nutritank Branches.
Reviewing current national medical curricula within the AfN inter-professional working group tasked by the GMC.
Medical students signed-up and align with our campaign.
Promoting increased education locally within medical schools.
Raising the issue within the media.
Promoting research links.
We are very proud to collaborate with the NNEdPro global knowledge network and to feature their key members on our think tank panel.
NNEdPro (Need for Nutrition Education Programme) are an award-winning, interdisciplinary think tank, training academy and knowledge network based in Cambridge – a centre for global excellence.
Their work has focused on developing adaptable and scalable models for medical nutrition education, combining clinical/public health knowledge with leadership training to aid implementation in healthcare settings. They work both nationally and internationally.
NNEdPro have undertaken a range of primary research studies and syntheses to fill evidence gaps. A specific gap being, the need for nutrition education within undergraduate and postgraduate medical training.
NNEdPro launched the BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health Journal, a new journal co-owned by NNEdPro and the BMJ Group, at their 4th International Summit in Cambridge in July 2018 ( which both Ally and Iain attended).This journal is dedicated to publishing high quality, peer reviewed articles focused on diet, exercise and healthcare technology specifically relevant for the health and wellbeing sector.
Within the NNEdPro medical director role, Dr Rajput-Ray assists to develop and deliver grassroots nutrition education research projects both in the UK and overseas; as aligned to the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition (2016–2025) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In addition, Dr Rajput-Ray provides clinical/medical advisory input with a specific emphasis on inter-professional patient focussed learning (bringing together medical students, junior doctors and allied health professions in the community).
She also has lead responsibility within NNEdPro, for wellbeing and performance. Dr Rajput-Ray also heads the wellbeing at work initiative with a focus on nutrition and hydration in promoting healthier workplaces, reducing sickness absence and improving staff performance. She is an elected Wolfson College Research Associate/Scholar at the University of Cambridge. Dr Rajput-Ray was awarded the 2015 Mobbs Corporate Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians Faculty of Occupational Medicine and the Golden Jubilee Fellowship of the Society for Occupational Medicine and serves as Chair of the Scientific Committee on (Unemployment, Job Insecurity and Health) of the International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH).
Sumantra (Shumone) Ray is a Licensed Medical Doctor as well as a Registered Nutritionist (Public Health), with special interests in Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Medical Nutrition Education. He works at the MRC Elsie Widdowson Laboratory as Senior Medical Advisor (Head of the Volunteer Studies and Clinical Services Facility) and Senior Clinician Scientist (Principal Investigator for the Nutrition and Vascular Studies Platform) as well as UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey Lead Clinician (Honorary Consultant in Nutrition with Public Health England). He is a Governing Body Fellow of Wolfson College, University of Cambridge.
Previously a Senior Clinical Research and Teaching Fellow at The Institute of Cardiovascular Research in Dundee, Scotland, Shumone also held a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Public Health Fellowship and was a Corfield Scholar at Selwyn College, University of Cambridge. In 2008, he became the Founding Chair of NNEdPro and is responsible for the Nutrition/Hydration Education and Leadership for Improved Clinical/Public Health Outcomes (NELICO) initiative, now spanning a number of countries.
In 2010, Shumone co-established the Nutrition Education Review/Research Interests Group at the Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine (responsible for Nutrition teaching across Years 3-6 of Undergraduate Medicine in Cambridge), where he was subsequently elected to the title of University of Cambridge Senior Clinical Tutor by the Faculty Board in recognition of contributions to Medical Nutrition Education. Shumone is also a Course Supervisor for the University of Cambridge taught MPhil degree in Public Health (MPH). Additionally, he is an Honorary NHS Senior Clinical Fellow at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge; a member of the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, the Royal College of Physicians and the Institute of Clinical Research; an elected Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, the Royal Society for Public Health and the American College of Nutrition; a committee member of the American Society for Nutrition; a task force member of the British Nutrition Foundation; an Ambassador for the Nutrition Society; and a registration committee member of the Association for Nutrition (AfN) as well as co-chair of the Healthcare Specialism working group of the AfN. Shumone is a longstanding elected officer of the British Medical Association's Medical Academic Staff Committee, an Expert Committee Member under the National Research Ethics Service (England) and is an external reviewer for the European Food Safety Authority as well as the World Health Organization.
Within the NNEdPro medical director role, Dr Rajput-Ray assists to develop and deliver grassroots nutrition education research projects both in the UK and overseas; as aligned to the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition (2016–2025) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In addition, Dr Rajput-Ray provides clinical/medical advisory input with a specific emphasis on inter-professional patient focussed learning (bringing together medical students, junior doctors and allied health professions in the community).
She also has lead responsibility within NNEdPro, for wellbeing and performance. Dr Rajput-Ray also heads the wellbeing at work initiative with a focus on nutrition and hydration in promoting healthier workplaces, reducing sickness absence and improving staff performance. She is an elected Wolfson College Research Associate/Scholar at the University of Cambridge. Dr Rajput-Ray was awarded the 2015 Mobbs Corporate Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians Faculty of Occupational Medicine and the Golden Jubilee Fellowship of the Society for Occupational Medicine and serves as Chair of the Scientific Committee on (Unemployment, Job Insecurity and Health) of the International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH).
I set up this website out of a passion to inspire everybody about the beauty of food and the medicinal effects of eating well. I create delicious recipes and bring attention to the clinical research behind the ingredients I use.
No Myths. No Fads. Just delicious healthy food.
Rather than scaring people into a restrictive way of eating, my philosophy is to use flavour and celebrate our cultural diversity to make healthy lifestyles enjoyable and deliciously accessible to everyone.
I’ve just written my first cookbook that you can check out here and on this website, you’ll find recipes, lifestyle tips, interesting events to attend and lots of evidence based information from an open minded straight-talking doctor.
Catherine has also just become an Honorary Fellow of the Research Council for Complementary Medicine. She was bestowed the title, for significant contributions to complementary medicine research, alongside revered Government advisor Prof Mike Saks at their London conference in September.
In his final year of training he was awarded the Severn Deanery Central Leadership Scholarship in which he organised the local committee, arranged and delivered several conferences and teaching sessions for GPs and medical students. During his training Dr Sykes spent time working in elderly care, acute medicine, paediatrics, dermatology, ENT and Public Health. Since qualifying, Dr Sykes has worked in several areas of need which has shaped his interest in chronic disease management for conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, smoking, heart disease as well as mental health conditions. Dr Sykes is passionate about General Practice as he strongly believes in the power it has to care for patients and better their health.
Sumantra (Shumone) Ray is a Licensed Medical Doctor as well as a Registered Nutritionist (Public Health), with special interests in Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Medical Nutrition Education. He works at the MRC Elsie Widdowson Laboratory as Senior Medical Advisor (Head of the Volunteer Studies and Clinical Services Facility) and Senior Clinician Scientist (Principal Investigator for the Nutrition and Vascular Studies Platform) as well as UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey Lead Clinician (Honorary Consultant in Nutrition with Public Health England). He is a Governing Body Fellow of Wolfson College, University of Cambridge.
Previously a Senior Clinical Research and Teaching Fellow at The Institute of Cardiovascular Research in Dundee, Scotland, Shumone also held a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Public Health Fellowship and was a Corfield Scholar at Selwyn College, University of Cambridge. In 2008, he became the Founding Chair of NNEdPro and is responsible for the Nutrition/Hydration Education and Leadership for Improved Clinical/Public Health Outcomes (NELICO) initiative, now spanning a number of countries.
In 2010, Shumone co-established the Nutrition Education Review/Research Interests Group at the Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine (responsible for Nutrition teaching across Years 3-6 of Undergraduate Medicine in Cambridge), where he was subsequently elected to the title of University of Cambridge Senior Clinical Tutor by the Faculty Board in recognition of contributions to Medical Nutrition Education. Shumone is also a Course Supervisor for the University of Cambridge taught MPhil degree in Public Health (MPH). Additionally, he is an Honorary NHS Senior Clinical Fellow at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge; a member of the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, the Royal College of Physicians and the Institute of Clinical Research; an elected Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, the Royal Society for Public Health and the American College of Nutrition; a committee member of the American Society for Nutrition; a task force member of the British Nutrition Foundation; an Ambassador for the Nutrition Society; and a registration committee member of the Association for Nutrition (AfN) as well as co-chair of the Healthcare Specialism working group of the AfN. Shumone is a longstanding elected officer of the British Medical Association's Medical Academic Staff Committee, an Expert Committee Member under the National Research Ethics Service (England) and is an external reviewer for the European Food Safety Authority as well as the World Health Organization.
Her debut book ‘The Food Medic” was released on May 4th, 2017 and made both the UK and Irish Bestseller lists (at number 3 and number 1 respectively). Her second book “The Food Medic for Life” was released the following year in April 2018, which also made the bestseller charts.
I currently work for Guys and St Thomas NHS Trust as a Community Paediatrician, with particular interest in childhood growth and development, and run clinics in obesity and nutrition. I have extensive clinical experience from working in several hospitals in and around London and in the school health service.
Since the early 1990s, he has been a leader of the GP/clinical commissioning movement with its aim of allowing frontline clinicians a far greater role in improving local services and health. He co-founded one of the first Locality Commissioning Groups in Mid Devon in 1993 and served on the National Executive of the National Association of GPs before becoming the first chair of its successor organisation, the NHS Alliance, in 1998. He has continued in this role, by annual election, to the present day. In 2012, clinical commissioning was fully embedded in statute with the creation of Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs). A new organisation, NHS Clinical Commissioners” was created to represent CCGs bringing together the commissioning “arms” of NHS Alliance, NHS Confederation and the National Association of Primary Care. Michael is the acting president of this new organisation.
A keen sportsman and low-carb cook, he has developed a lifestyle medicine approach which he uses in his daily practice. He is currently researching the impact of a low-carb approach against current standard dietary advice in a pre-diabetic population, which he hopes will award him with an MSc degree. He has enjoyed great success with a variety of patients in his practice and aims to develop his own LCHF clinic in the near future.
Peter also has an Instagram profile @drpeterjfoley where he posts his own low-carb meals, personal experiences and also shares patient success stories.
Dr Zoe graduated from Medical school in 2007, with recognition for high achievement. She has gained experience in many specialist fields within medicine including A&E, Cardiology, Respiratory and Acute medicine, Surgery, Dermatology, Oncology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology. She currently practices as an NHS General Practitioner in London. Her specialist interests include preventative medicine, sports medicine and tackling chronic health thorough lifestyle measures such as healthy eating and physical activity. She is clinical lead of Public Health England’s GP clinical champion network and also leads on work to promote physical activity and healthy lifestyle with The Royal College of General Practitioners.
Zoe is one of the resident Doctors on ITV’s This Morning. She also frequently features as a presenter/ expert on the BBC’s Horizon and Trust Me I’m a Doctor. She specializes in debunking the confusing world of medicine, in a fun and entertaining way. As a GP she is fluent in all subjects relating to health, and is respected within the medical world as an expert in the fields of physical activity, obesity and lifestyle.
Additionally, he implants complex pacemakers and defibrillators at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon.
He has a special interest in minimising pacemaker scars and the role of diet in cardiovascular conditions. This has led to appearances on BBC Horizons and he currently writes on the subject of diet and health for the Observer.
General Cardiology
In his role as editor of the UK and European Core Cardiology textbooks, Ali remains fully up-to-date on the latest general cardiology evidence and guidelines. As such he provides a modern and efficient approach to the assessment of a broad range of cardiovascular symptoms and conditions including:
Chest pain and arterial disease
Palpitations, arrhythmias and atrial fibrillation
Loss of consciousness (syncope) or near blackouts (presyncope)
Structural conditions (murmurs, heart muscle and valvular problems)
Risk factors such as weight management, high blood pressure, cholesterol and family history
Duncan also works as an integrative doctor at Penny Brohn UK, a charity which specialises in holistic support for people living with and beyond cancer. He is part of the NCIM Holistic Doctor team, teaches medical undergraduates at the University of Bristol and is Education Lead for NCIM. He has co-pioneered a new two-year Diploma in Integrative Medicine for healthcare professionals.
‘I feel passionate about prevention and early diagnosis of these diseases. I’m supporting GET LIPPY because as a doctor I don’t want my patients to delay reporting symptoms, as a scientist because we need to raise awareness to improve research funding and as a woman because I don’t want to see others suffer in silence.’
Anita is author of The Gynae Geek: Your No-Nonsense Guide to Down-There Healthcare.
To get 1 patient to quit smoking doctors need to advise between 50- 120 patients. However, to get 1 person to meet recommended activity guidelines doctors need to advise only 12 patients!
Nutritank doesn’t believe doctors should be at the same level of knowledge as dieticians and nutritionists. But they should have a level of understanding which allows them to advise patients on simple nutrition and lifestyle measures in looking after their health and wellbeing and then refer on APPROPRIATELY to nutritionists and dieticians.
Motivational interviewing is at the heart of this. It is paramount to meet the patient in the middle and relate the information to their current routine. Common examples of this in clinical practice is for doctors to advise: – food substitutions and beneficial add-ons to increase the nutritional density of meals, e.g. can you add lentils into dish to make it more nutritionally dense? Can you get some extra steps in during your morning commute? e.g. getting off the tube one stop earlier. Can you find 5-10 minutes of relaxation a day such as; a walk through a park, engaging with green space or doing a mindfulness practice. Can you try and have a tech curfew and not look at a screen past a certain time?
Previous efforts to roll out a new nutritional education curriculum have been curtailed by the fact that it was not made obligatory by the GMC for medical schools to introduce it into their independent curricula. That means it was not disseminated and applied to education practice. Obtaining voluntary buy-in from decision makers on an individual level is therefore paramount.
Despite sensationalist media headlines which have led to pubic confusion and misconception around nutritional science, we have found that, there is in fact a general consensus surrounding which food is most beneficial to health. We don’t know everything about nutrition, and much is still being discovered, for instance the new studies around gut health and the microbiome. However, there is enough scientific fact around food, to benefit patient care, that the time for action and innovation is now.
Whilst nutrition falls under the umbrella of Lifestyle medicine, we believe that Nutrition is its own entity and should be prioritised as the first call to action. Firstly, it has the most misinformation and tension surrounding it. Secondly because the subject of the science, being food, intersects with just about every aspect of society, from cultural beliefs to socioeconomic status. It’s complex and multi-faceted. However, we would rather do something, rather than nothing. Therefore, we are starting with education and we want to empower as many individuals to initiate the conversation around nutrition and lifestyle medicine.
A small snapshot of the total evidence basis showing the need for greater nutrition in medical education. Currently medical students & doctors don’t feel confident to talk to patients about diet (and lifestyle) in the context of the management and prevention of chronic disease and in addition promoting health and wellbeing. For more evidence visit our resources page in our online toolbox.
Nutrition in medical education: a systematic review
Nutrition education in European medical schools: results of an international survey
Mediterranean Diet for 5 Years for Heart Disease Prevention
Lyon Diet Heart Study
Metabolic health and COVID-19: a call for greater medical nutrition education
Time for nutrition in medical education