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New study questions the evidence behind behaviour-change communication guidance for GPs
26 February 2026
Advice on how general practice staff should talk to adult patients about behaviour change is common, but new research from the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences found that this behaviour-change communication guidance for general practice is rarely clearly substantiated with relevant evidence.
Reducing salt in everyday foods could prevent tens of thousands of heart attacks and strokes, new study finds
26 January 2026
A new study led by researchers in the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences has found that if the UK food industry had met the government’s voluntary 2024 salt reduction targets, substantial improvements could have been made in cardiovascular health, leading to major savings for the NHS - all without the public having to change their eating habits.
Stopping weight-loss drugs linked to faster regain than ending diet programmes finds new review
7 January 2026
People tend to regain weight rapidly after stopping weight-loss drugs – and faster than after ending behavioural weight loss programmes – according to a new systematic review and meta-analysis from department researchers, funded by the NIHR, published in The BMJ today.
Department sessions at the Alumni Meeting Minds weekend
9 October 2025
Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences bring two sessions for alumni at Oxford Meeting Minds 2025, with talks on CEBM’s review of 30 years of evidence-based medicine spanning CD-ROMs to AI and big data, and a panel on sustainable food, health and nature chaired by Professor Susan Jebb.
Shaping a healthier food system
6 October 2025
Researchers in our Health Behaviours team are using an interactive digital game to involve the public in discussions about how to fix the food system.
Women with obesity seeking IVF 47% more likely to conceive naturally after weight loss, Oxford review finds
12 August 2025
Department research finds weight-loss programmes raise natural-conception odds by 47% for women with obesity seeking IVF, potentially easing NHS access barriers and reducing treatment need.
Are GP incentives for smoking cessation hitting the mark? New study questions impact on effective care for heart patients
2 May 2025
Are UK GP incentives helping heart patients quit smoking? New research questions QOF impact, finding effective cessation treatments lag behind recorded advice, especially for those with mental illness.
Professor Susan Jebb celebrated in Women in Westminster: The 100
12 March 2025
Professor Susan Jebb OBE has been recognised in the 2025 Women in Westminster: The 100 list in her role as Chair of the Food Standards Agency.
Three top strategies for quitting smoking
5 September 2024
Top three strategies for quitting smoking: e-cigarettes, varenicline, and cytisine. New review summarises data from fourteen Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Reviews of over 150,000 participants, providing evidence-based guidance for smokers seeking to quit.
Doctors' communication style can boost patients' weight loss success, first-of-its-kind study reveals
7 November 2023
Discover how effective doctor-patient communication significantly boosts weight loss success in this new study. Simple, compassionate dialogue leads to better obesity care outcomes.
E-cigarettes, varenicline and cytisine are the most effective stop-smoking aids, analysis of over 150,000 smokers reveals
12 September 2023
Oxford-led study identifies nicotine e-cigarettes, varenicline, and cytisine as top aids for stopping smoking long-term. Comprehensive analysis offers clear insights for effective quit strategies.
Rapid weight loss found to be safe and helpful for people with liver disease, Oxford trial reveals
28 June 2023
A clinical trial, led by a team at NDPCHS, has shown that a three-month rapid weight loss programme was not only safe but also effective in reducing the severity of a liver disease called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with liver fibrosis.
LEAP's 'Meat Your Persona' showcased at the Royal Society's Summer Science Exhibition
27 June 2023
Researchers from the University of Oxford's Livestock Environment and People (LEAP) programme look forward to engaging thousands of members of the public with leading research on the health and environmental impacts of meat consumption.
Professor Peter Scarborough co-leads new £5.4 million national consortium to transform the food system and encourage healthier diets
1 June 2023
SALIENT will co-design and evaluate interventions that support healthier diets and reduce the environmental impacts of our food system, working with partners in local government, food charities, community support teams and the food industry.
New study shows quitting smoking can improve mental health, providing reassurance to smokers and clinicians
31 May 2023
A new cohort study led by Oxford University has provided compelling evidence that quitting smoking can lead to improved mental health outcomes among people with and without mental health disorders, alleviating concerns raised by both clinicians and smokers.
Danish-UK research collaboration aims to develop effective obesity management programmes
14 December 2022
Leading researchers from Denmark and the University of Oxford's Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, will develop and test new obesity management programmes. The goal is to improve health and quality of life through solutions that can contribute to lasting changes, including long-term weight loss. The Novo Nordisk Foundation is backing the project with a grant of £21 million.
Study reveals environmental impact of 57,000 multi-ingredient processed foods for first time
9 August 2022
New research, led by researchers at the universities of Oxford and Aberdeen, highlights a new way of assessing the environmental impacts of supermarket food. It finds that plant-based foods have the lowest environmental impacts and that more nutritious foods are often more sustainable.
Research from Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences contributes to new guidelines on faecal immunochemical testing (FIT) in patients with signs or symptoms of suspected colorectal cancer
4 August 2022
The joint guideline from the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland (ACPGBI) and the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) provides a clear strategy for the use of FIT in the colorectal cancer diagnostic pathway.
Measured weight loss associates with an increased risk of a cancer diagnosis
4 August 2022
Weight loss is a sign of undiagnosed cancer regardless of the interval over which it occurs.
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