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Insights from Western European Mothers
The accompanying reports combine a review of existing literature with an analysis of original quantitative data derived from a poll of 9,582 mothers from 12 countries in Western Europe, making it one of the largest studies of this kind ever conducted
An analysis of the latest available data from the Health Survey for England (HSE)
In this ‘National Childhood Obesity Week’, the SIRC report, Children, obesity and heath: Recent trends, holds up a true mirror, accurately reflecting the trend towards slimmer, healthier children. more
An examination of the role of Freemasonry in the 21st century
This report is, as far as we know, an account of the first ever study that has been commissioned by Freemasons from a non-Masonic body. None of the SIRC members involved in the project are Freemasons, a fact that evoked surprise and welcome in equal measure from the Lodge members we met. more
Insights from three generations of mothers
The report seeks to answer some specific questions about the changing face of motherhood and determine the extent to which modern ‘solutions’ to motherhood are more or less beneficial than the solutions of the past. more
SIRC findings echoed by US study
SIRC's findings on the adverse psychological side effects of health warnings have been echoed in a US study from Cornell's National Nutrition Information Center. The Cornell survey identifies up to 59% of Americans as 'flip-floppers', who constantly change their eating habits in response to conflicting health information about food – a classification similar to SIRC's 'riskfactorphobics'.
The US study also indicates that at least one in five Americans may be affected by what SIRC has called 'warning-fatigue', where they eventually give up and stop paying any attention to new information on nutrition. Like SIRC, the Cornell researchers recognise the dangers of both of these responses, and call for greater caution from those who dispense nutrition advice.
SIRC is currently developing – with the Royal Institution and a panel of leading scientists, doctors and media representatives – a Code of Practice on reporting of science and health issues in the media, which will help to improve communication on nutrition in Britain, and perhaps serve as a model for the development of similar guidelines in the US.
