People in Edinburgh and the Lothians are being offered nutritional advice as part of a new research project being undertaken by Queen Margaret University (QMU).

From now until March 2017, men and women aged 18 to 50 can benefit from free expert advice on how to give their body a heathy boost by making simple changes to what they eat.

Volunteers will be offered a free initial health check, including weight, body mass index (BMI), and blood sugar, before participating in the research.  People who are eligible and complete the study can receive feedback about their current diet.

The assessments will include body composition tests, which allow researchers to calculate how much muscle and fat volunteers have. This method of analysis is more accurate than weight measurements alone.

The study is being conducted by QMU’s department for Dietetics, Nutrition and Biological Sciences.  The research-active unit offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the fields of dietetics, biological science and health. Their staff have particular expertise in public health, clinical nutrition and metabolism, as well as complementary medicine.

Suzanne Zaremba, a nutritionist and researcher at QMU, is leading the study.  She said: “Numerous studies identify the potential weight control benefits of diets that are high in fibre. In our research, we’re exploring how fibre can benefit our health by potentially curbing your appetite.

“People are often unaware of what and how much they are eating. This research offers individuals the opportunity to rethink their eating habits and give them an appreciation of how dietary fibre can affect their general wellbeing.”

People interested in taking part in the study can contact Suzanne Zaremba at QMU to find out if they are eligible to participate, E: SZaremba@qmu.ac.uk