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Papers by Barrie Margetts
Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 1994
Proceedings of The Nutrition Society, 2004
The unravelling of the human genome has the potential to radically extend many of the strategies ... more The unravelling of the human genome has the potential to radically extend many of the strategies used in public health nutrition to improve health and to increase food availability, accessibility and utilization. The present paper divides nutrigenomics into two broad but differing areas in asking about possible public health applications: (1) the increasing mismatch between population growth and global food security, on top of the already approximately 800 million of the world population who are food insecure; (2) possible responses to the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases as the Western diet becomes increasingly inappropriate to the needs of those consuming it. It is clear that complex interactions of multiple polymorphisms play a role in how individuals and sub-populations respond to dietary interventions. All these applications present public health and ethical challenges, particularly in ensuring that any benefits that do come from nutrigenomics are not restricted to the wealthy minority of only the affluent nations. The present paper concludes that the public health applications of nutrigenomics are probably at least a decade away, especially for developing countries. Clinical applications are likely to be more immediate, probably resulting in ‘designer diets’ for individuals with particular polymorphisms, but unless governments take on the role of ensuring some extent of equity in access, any benefits are most likely to go to those who can afford the screening, tests and treatment. At the same time, greatly increased international efforts are needed towards the continuing, and in some cases worsening, global malnutrition, as genetic manipulation of crops is unlikely to provide more than part of the solution.
Public Health Nutrition, 2003
Public Health Nutrition, 2009
British Journal of Nutrition, 1998
http://isrctn.org/>, 2000
Design Concepts in Nutritional Epidemiology, 1997
Plants: Diet and Health, 2003
s Abstract Emerging methods in the measurement of race and ethnicity have important implications ... more s Abstract Emerging methods in the measurement of race and ethnicity have important implications for the field of public health. Traditionally, information on race and/or ethnicity has been integral to our understanding of the health issues affecting the U.S. population. We review some of the complexities created by new classification approaches made possible by the inclusion of multiple-race assessment in the U.S. Census and large health surveys. We discuss the importance of these classification decisions in understanding racial/ethnic health and health care access disparities. The trend toward increasing racial and ethnic diversity in the United States will put further pressure on the public health industry to develop consistent and useful approaches to racial/ethnic classifications.
Social Science & Medicine, 1987
Despite a warm sunny climate, rickets is extremely common in children living in an isolated mount... more Despite a warm sunny climate, rickets is extremely common in children living in an isolated mountainous area of North Yemen . In a small township the overall prevalence amongst children under five years attending for vaccination was 27% . The condition was most common at the end of the first year and had disappeared by the fifth year . Marasmus was commonly associated with rickets . Children from the rural villages outside the township had significantly lower rates of rickets . Several factors may contribute to the very high rates of rickets in rural Yemen . However, lack of exposure to sunlight as a consequence of particular cultural practices is likely to be the most important . The major social and behavioural factors which restrict the young child acc s to sunlight are outlined, and possible remedies discussed .
Handbook of Epidemiology, 2014
Handbook of Epidemiology, 2005
... The truth is usually estimated by reference to another method, and many researchers prefer to... more ... The truth is usually estimated by reference to another method, and many researchers prefer to describe this as relative validity ... epidemiological studies (Table 4.1 ... level of agreement is considered good enough to reduce measurement error to an acceptable level (that is, so that in ...
Population Studies, 1999
Using cross-sectional data from Ghana, Malaw i, Nigeria, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, a multi... more Using cross-sectional data from Ghana, Malaw i, Nigeria, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, a multilevel analysis was performed to determine the extent of correlation of nutritional status between children in the same family and geographical area. Weight-for-age z-scores were used as a measure of nutritional status for children up to three years of age. The percentage of children who were under-weight
Public Health Nutrition, 2012
Objective: To test the feasibility of a pan-European professional recognition system for public h... more Objective: To test the feasibility of a pan-European professional recognition system for public health nutrition. Design: A multistage consultation process was used to test the feasibility of a model system for public health nutritionist certification. A review of existing national-level systems for professional quality assurance was conducted via literature review and a web-based search, followed by direct inquiries among stakeholders. This information was used to construct a consultation document circulated to key stakeholders summarising the rationale of the proposed system and inviting feedback about the feasibility of the system. Two consultation workshops were also held. The qualitative data gathered through the consultation were collated and thematically analysed. Setting: Europe. Subjects: Public health nutrition workforce stakeholders across twenty-nine countries in the European Union. Results: One hundred and forty-five contacts/experts representing twenty-nine countries were contacted with responses received from a total of twenty-eight countries. The system proposed involved a certification system of professional peer review of an applicant's professional practice portfolio, utilising systems supported by information technology for document management and distribution similar to peer-review journals. Through the consultation process it was clear that there was overall agreement with the model proposed although some points of caution and concern were raised, including the need for a robust quality assurance framework that ensures transparency and is open to scrutiny. Conclusions: The consultation process suggested that the added value of such a system goes beyond workforce development to enhancing recognition of the important role of public health nutrition as a professional discipline in the European public health workforce.
Nutrition, 2004
OBJECTIVE: We examined differences in body composition between stunted and non-stunted girls, wit... more OBJECTIVE: We examined differences in body composition between stunted and non-stunted girls, with adjustments for confounding factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a representative sample of 478 African school girls, ages 10 to 15 y, in the North West Province, South Africa. Height, weight, skinfold thicknesses, and waist and mid upper arm circumferences were measured by trained biokineticists using standard methods. Trained fieldworkers measured dietary intakes by 24-h recall, and physical activity was measured by using the physical activity recall of the previous day. Body mass index and physical activity category were calculated. RESULTS: Stunted girls had significantly lower weight and skinfold thicknesses than did non-stunted ones. After including the covariates: age, years since menarche, school, type of housing, dietary energy and fat intakes, physical activity category, body weight, and stratum of urbanization in analysis of variance, the mean sum of triceps skinfold and subscapular skinfold thicknesses of stunted girls was greater than that of the non-stunted girls (P Ͻ 0.002). Stunted subjects were less active than non-stunted ones. CONCLUSION: This manifestation of relatively more subcutaneous fat and greater waist circumference in stunted girls may be involved in the development of obesity among black women in South Africa.
Plants: Diet and Health, 2003
Design Concepts in Nutritional Epidemiology, 1997
Design Concepts in Nutritional Epidemiology, 1997
Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 1994
Proceedings of The Nutrition Society, 2004
The unravelling of the human genome has the potential to radically extend many of the strategies ... more The unravelling of the human genome has the potential to radically extend many of the strategies used in public health nutrition to improve health and to increase food availability, accessibility and utilization. The present paper divides nutrigenomics into two broad but differing areas in asking about possible public health applications: (1) the increasing mismatch between population growth and global food security, on top of the already approximately 800 million of the world population who are food insecure; (2) possible responses to the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases as the Western diet becomes increasingly inappropriate to the needs of those consuming it. It is clear that complex interactions of multiple polymorphisms play a role in how individuals and sub-populations respond to dietary interventions. All these applications present public health and ethical challenges, particularly in ensuring that any benefits that do come from nutrigenomics are not restricted to the wealthy minority of only the affluent nations. The present paper concludes that the public health applications of nutrigenomics are probably at least a decade away, especially for developing countries. Clinical applications are likely to be more immediate, probably resulting in ‘designer diets’ for individuals with particular polymorphisms, but unless governments take on the role of ensuring some extent of equity in access, any benefits are most likely to go to those who can afford the screening, tests and treatment. At the same time, greatly increased international efforts are needed towards the continuing, and in some cases worsening, global malnutrition, as genetic manipulation of crops is unlikely to provide more than part of the solution.
Public Health Nutrition, 2003
Public Health Nutrition, 2009
British Journal of Nutrition, 1998
http://isrctn.org/>, 2000
Design Concepts in Nutritional Epidemiology, 1997
Plants: Diet and Health, 2003
s Abstract Emerging methods in the measurement of race and ethnicity have important implications ... more s Abstract Emerging methods in the measurement of race and ethnicity have important implications for the field of public health. Traditionally, information on race and/or ethnicity has been integral to our understanding of the health issues affecting the U.S. population. We review some of the complexities created by new classification approaches made possible by the inclusion of multiple-race assessment in the U.S. Census and large health surveys. We discuss the importance of these classification decisions in understanding racial/ethnic health and health care access disparities. The trend toward increasing racial and ethnic diversity in the United States will put further pressure on the public health industry to develop consistent and useful approaches to racial/ethnic classifications.
Social Science & Medicine, 1987
Despite a warm sunny climate, rickets is extremely common in children living in an isolated mount... more Despite a warm sunny climate, rickets is extremely common in children living in an isolated mountainous area of North Yemen . In a small township the overall prevalence amongst children under five years attending for vaccination was 27% . The condition was most common at the end of the first year and had disappeared by the fifth year . Marasmus was commonly associated with rickets . Children from the rural villages outside the township had significantly lower rates of rickets . Several factors may contribute to the very high rates of rickets in rural Yemen . However, lack of exposure to sunlight as a consequence of particular cultural practices is likely to be the most important . The major social and behavioural factors which restrict the young child acc s to sunlight are outlined, and possible remedies discussed .
Handbook of Epidemiology, 2014
Handbook of Epidemiology, 2005
... The truth is usually estimated by reference to another method, and many researchers prefer to... more ... The truth is usually estimated by reference to another method, and many researchers prefer to describe this as relative validity ... epidemiological studies (Table 4.1 ... level of agreement is considered good enough to reduce measurement error to an acceptable level (that is, so that in ...
Population Studies, 1999
Using cross-sectional data from Ghana, Malaw i, Nigeria, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, a multi... more Using cross-sectional data from Ghana, Malaw i, Nigeria, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, a multilevel analysis was performed to determine the extent of correlation of nutritional status between children in the same family and geographical area. Weight-for-age z-scores were used as a measure of nutritional status for children up to three years of age. The percentage of children who were under-weight
Public Health Nutrition, 2012
Objective: To test the feasibility of a pan-European professional recognition system for public h... more Objective: To test the feasibility of a pan-European professional recognition system for public health nutrition. Design: A multistage consultation process was used to test the feasibility of a model system for public health nutritionist certification. A review of existing national-level systems for professional quality assurance was conducted via literature review and a web-based search, followed by direct inquiries among stakeholders. This information was used to construct a consultation document circulated to key stakeholders summarising the rationale of the proposed system and inviting feedback about the feasibility of the system. Two consultation workshops were also held. The qualitative data gathered through the consultation were collated and thematically analysed. Setting: Europe. Subjects: Public health nutrition workforce stakeholders across twenty-nine countries in the European Union. Results: One hundred and forty-five contacts/experts representing twenty-nine countries were contacted with responses received from a total of twenty-eight countries. The system proposed involved a certification system of professional peer review of an applicant's professional practice portfolio, utilising systems supported by information technology for document management and distribution similar to peer-review journals. Through the consultation process it was clear that there was overall agreement with the model proposed although some points of caution and concern were raised, including the need for a robust quality assurance framework that ensures transparency and is open to scrutiny. Conclusions: The consultation process suggested that the added value of such a system goes beyond workforce development to enhancing recognition of the important role of public health nutrition as a professional discipline in the European public health workforce.
Nutrition, 2004
OBJECTIVE: We examined differences in body composition between stunted and non-stunted girls, wit... more OBJECTIVE: We examined differences in body composition between stunted and non-stunted girls, with adjustments for confounding factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a representative sample of 478 African school girls, ages 10 to 15 y, in the North West Province, South Africa. Height, weight, skinfold thicknesses, and waist and mid upper arm circumferences were measured by trained biokineticists using standard methods. Trained fieldworkers measured dietary intakes by 24-h recall, and physical activity was measured by using the physical activity recall of the previous day. Body mass index and physical activity category were calculated. RESULTS: Stunted girls had significantly lower weight and skinfold thicknesses than did non-stunted ones. After including the covariates: age, years since menarche, school, type of housing, dietary energy and fat intakes, physical activity category, body weight, and stratum of urbanization in analysis of variance, the mean sum of triceps skinfold and subscapular skinfold thicknesses of stunted girls was greater than that of the non-stunted girls (P Ͻ 0.002). Stunted subjects were less active than non-stunted ones. CONCLUSION: This manifestation of relatively more subcutaneous fat and greater waist circumference in stunted girls may be involved in the development of obesity among black women in South Africa.
Plants: Diet and Health, 2003
Design Concepts in Nutritional Epidemiology, 1997
Design Concepts in Nutritional Epidemiology, 1997