Latest news from Loughborough University
| 28 April 2003 | PR 03/27 |
Kellogg’s calls
on Loughborough scientist to assess impact of new national healthy eating
initiative
The world’s leading breakfast
cereal brand has enlisted the expertise of Loughborough University to
scientifically prove that its new healthy eating initiative can help lose
fat and inches.
Dr Robin Hooper, an ergonomist
in Loughborough University’s Human Sciences Department, acted as
an independent consultant for Kellogg’s Kick-start UK trial to assess
the change in body shape associated with moderate weight loss in relation
to dietary restriction. “As the trial lasts for only two weeks, I
was pleasantly surprised to find that participants had lost more than
3/4 inch on average from around their waist and experienced girth reductions
all over their body. 38 per cent dropped a whole trouser size,” says
Dr Hooper.
Kellogg’s Kick-start is
a newly launched national campaign in line with government nutrition guidelines
that we maintain a low fat, high carbohydrate diet for a healthy lifestyle.
It is a simple two-week programme in which participants eat two bowls
of either Kellogg’s Special K or Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut with
semi-skimmed milk for breakfast and either lunch or dinner in order to
‘kick start’ a trimmer shape.
Prior to commencing the trial,
each of the participants was measured around the waist, chest, upper arm,
hip and thigh, and their height and body fat were measured. In addition
to using these standard anthropometric measurements, Dr Hooper also set
up a process for the ‘blind fitting’ of jeans and trousers.
Each participant was given three different sized pairs including their
current size, but the size labels were removed. The garments were specifically
chosen due to the tough and rather ‘unforgiving’ fabric properties
and no mirrors were provided, so that participants would assess the comfort
of each and select the garment that gave their preferred size.
“In addition to the encouraging
weight loss which the participants experienced after the two-week trial,
we were surprised to discover so many of the group found that the next
jeans size down had become a more comfy fit,” explains Dr Hooper.
“As well as increasing
the proportion of carbohydrate in the diet, the promising results we encountered
are in line with new research which reveals that raising your calcium
intake whilst restricting calories will aid weight loss,” concludes
Dr Hooper. “Furthermore, the presence of significant abdominal fat
is linked with the risk of suffering ill health such as a heart condition
or diabetes. Any regime that encourages gradual fat loss from the chest
and waist is a positive step towards a healthy lifestyle.”
The Kellogg’s Kick-start
has been very well supported by extensive and repeated studies around
the world. In addition to the Loughborough University study, research
at Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh found that over 20 per
cent of participants lost more than 6lbs and the average weight loss was
4.3lbs.
Kellogg’s Kick-start should
be followed for two weeks only. Participants are encouraged to eat plenty
of fruit and vegetables and low fat, high carbohydrate food. The programme
is not recommended for anyone with a Body Mass Index (BMI) under 25. Pregnant
or breast feeding women, anyone under 18 years of age or taking medication
should consult their doctor before commencing Kellogg’s Kick-start
or any other weight-loss programme.
Further information about Loughborough
University's consultancy expertise in health, fitness and human science
is available at the following website:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/business/luel/kelloggs
For further information
please contact:
- Anna Seddon, Marketing
and PR, Loughborough University Enterprises Ltd,
T: 01509 223445, E: A.J.seddon@lboro.ac.uk - Fleur Stanford, Marketing
and PR, Loughborough University Enterprises Ltd,
T: 01509 228684, E: F.T.stanford@lboro.ac.uk
- Hannah Baldwin, Head
of Publicity, Loughborough University,
T: 01509 222239, E: H.E.Baldwin@lboro.ac.uk
Further information regarding
the Loughborough study for Kellogg’s UK Kick-start trial is available
for journalists and Dr Robin Hooper is available for interviews. Please
contact either Anna Seddon or Fleur Stanford for details.
For further information
about Kellogg’s Kick-start, please contact the Kellogg’s Press
Office at Hill and Knowlton, 35 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4SG
Alison Ward, T: 020 7413 4485, E: award@hillandknowlton.com
Jo Clark, T: 020 7413 3036, E: jclark@hillandknowlton.com
Notes to editors
- Body Mass Index (BMI) is
a measure of fatness or leanness and is calculated by dividing one’s
weight in kilograms by the square of one’s height in metres. If
the BMI of an adult is:
Below 18.5, they are underweight
18.5 - 25, they are within normal weight range
25 - 30 they are probably overweight
Over 30, they are probably obese
- Kellogg’s Kick-start
is in line with government guidelines that recommend that we reduce
our fat intake to 35% of energy intake (currently about 40%) and increase
carbohydrate intake to above 50% of energy intake.
- Details of Kellogg’s
Kick-start are available on packs of Kellogg’s Special K or Kellogg’s
Crunchy Nut or visiting http://www.kelloggs.co.uk
- Loughborough has an established reputation for excellence in teaching and research, strong links with industry, and unrivalled sporting achievement. Assessments of teaching quality by the Quality Assurance Agency place Loughborough in the top flight of UK universities, and industry highlights Loughborough in its top five for graduate recruitment. Around 30% of the University’s income is for research. The University has been awarded four Queen’s Anniversary Prizes: for its collaboration with aerospace and automotive companies such as BAE Systems, Ford and Rolls Royce; for its work in developing countries; for pioneering research in optical engineering; and for its world-leading role in sports research, education and development.