Food and Behaviour Research

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Adult Mental Health: The Role of Nutrition - BOOK HERE

EDINBURGH, Thursday 25 June 2015 - Feeding Better Behaviour, Learning and Mood: The Gut, Brain and Nutrition Connection

EdinburghFood and Behaviour Research

Start Date: 25 June 2015

End Date: 25 June 2015

Duration 3.5 hours

Location Edinburgh

Venue The Carlton Hotel, North Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1SD

File Download:

2015 Regional Seminars Flyer (761.68 KB)

2015 Regional Programme - EDINBURGH

Food and Behaviour Research is internationally known and respected for the quality of its events and information. For many years the charity has attracted world-class speakers who can make the very latest research findings accessible to public and professional as well as academic audiences, offering them the opportunity to hear the latest scientific evidence, and to discuss its practical, real-world implications.

This latest series of early evening workshops and seminars is designed to provide a concise yet comprehensive, overview of current research into the effects of nutrition and diet on mental health, wellbeing and performance in both children and adults, emphasising the ways that this can be used to inform and improve best practice.

The programme will include updates from recent conferences organised by FAB Research and other organisations, as well as recent news. Additional information will be published through our regular e-alerts and via the many local individuals and groups who support FAB and our message.  

These events form part of a rolling programme designed to meet the increasing demand for high-quality information and training in this multi-disciplinary field. Further events will therefore be scheduled in other regions in 2015 and 2016.

  • If you would like to host or support an event in your area, or simply help to spread the word amongst your colleagues, peers, local groups and decision-makers, please email [email protected].


Feeding Better Behaviour, Learning and Mood: The Gut, Brain and Nutrition Connection - Edinburgh, Thursday 25 June 2015  

Difficulties with mood, behaviour and learning are an ever-increasing problem in the UK and other developed countries.  Conditions like ADHD, Dyslexia, Autism Spectrum Disorders and antisocial behaviour have reached record levels, as have anxiety, depression, dementia and related disorders. Children and young people appear particularly vulnerable, but increasing mental health problems are affecting all age groups.  Milder forms of these conditions are also common, leaving families and health professionals struggling to cope.

The surge in conditions relating to mental health, wellbeing and performance is linked to rising rates of many physical health problems that are known to be diet-related: from obesity and diabetes, to allergies and other immune system conditions.  New scientific research is showing why mental and physical health disorders often occur together; and how better nutrition can help. Key to this are the highly complex links between our guts, brains and immune systems, which are all heavily influenced by what we eat.*

This seminar presents the latest scientific evidence on how food and diet can influence mood, behaviour, and learning, and examines the potential for positive clinical and personal outcomes from nutritional interventions. Attendees will learn about practical, cost-effective strategies that can be used by both professionals and members of the public to manage and improve mental - as well as physical - health, wellbeing and performance.

PROGRAMME (timings and topics subject to confirmation)

  • Registration from 5.00 p.m.  First presentation 6.00 p.m.
  • Informal networking, and light refreshments
  • Dr Alex Richardson Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Evidence Based Intervention, University of Oxford; Founder Director, FAB Research
    • The Role of Nutrition in Mood Behaviour and Learning:  An Overview.
    • Evidence-Based Dietary Interventions for Mood, Behaviour and Learning in Clinical and General Populations.
  • David Rex RDSpecialist Dietian, Health and Social Care – Children’s Services, Highland Council
    • How to influence food choices in the context of current family food culture.
    • Nutrition science in practice – how do we decide what’s worth trying?
  • Seminar ends 8.30 p.m.


* For more information about 'Guts, Brains and the Nutrition Connection', please visit our March 2014 conference page here, or access our Audio Video library to view these and other presentations from FAB's recent one-day conferences - all freely available to FAB Associate Members.  

If you're not yet a FAB Associate, but would like to join to take advantage of these and other benefits, please visit our Associate Members page, contact [email protected]) or call our events office on 01296 706445.

Contact Information: Events office [email protected]  01296 706445