Attendees at the University of West London's Nutrition Symposium
Attendees at the University of West London's Nutrition Symposium

Symposium explores research on nutrition for adolescents including those with ADHD and ASD

Intro

Last month, MSc Nutrition, Health and Wellbeing and MSc Food Business Management students at the London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism (LGCHT) took part in a symposium on the topic of Nutrition for Adolescents. 

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The event explored the specialised nutritional needs of adolescents, including those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Topics focused on how specific dietary strategies can support physical health, cognitive development and behavioural management within these groups. 

Emphasis was placed on understanding the unique challenges these adolescents face in maintaining balanced nutrition, as well as the role of micronutrients, dietary patterns and food sensitivities. 

Presentations by experts in clinical nutrition and psychology guided participants through evidence-based approaches to help families and caregivers enhance the nutritional wellbeing and overall quality of life for adolescents managing these conditions. 

Dr Jo Tucker speaking at the University of West London's Nutrition Symposium

Previously a Senior Lecturer at UWL, now supervising a range of postgraduate and undergraduate dissertations, Dr Joanna Tucker talked to the students about nutritional labels and food choices at schools. Her PhD thesis was ‘The Application of an Experimental Food Label Applied to Food Served in the Selected Secondary Schools in Greater London and its influence on Adolescent Food Choice.’ 

Senior Lecturer in Psychology at St Mary’s University Dr Kate Lawrence gave a presentation about nutrition and ADHD adolescents. Her expertise lies in neurodevelopmental disorders, with a particular focus on dietary and gut microbiome influences on mental health and cognitive function. 

Dr Sue Simmons spoke to the students about probiotics and autism. She completed her research PhD at University College London, which focused on the impact of gastrointestinal symptoms on autistic children, their experience of healthcare and the efficacy of dietary interventions. 

David Titman giving a lecture at the University of West London's Nutrition Symposium

Registered Nutritionist and food scientist David Titman gave a presentation about whole-school approaches to improving nutrition for children and young people. 

The event was organised as a research on evidence base practice for the two masters courses. We are so grateful to the excellent speakers for captivating us with their research,” 

explained Associate Professor in Food Science and Nutrition Dr Amalia Tsiami. 

Student Althea said,

The symposium was highly informative. It was particularly interesting to hear about why we should consider probiotics for autistic children. The world of the microbiome is fascinating, and I was excited to learn more in this area.” 

Another student, Ingrid Kitzing, commented, 

The symposium provided interesting insights into how research ideas translate into real projects. It was a timely reminder to be realistic and remember the practical considerations, which is extremely useful as we plan our research projects.” 

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