“Most problems in today’s society cannot be solved by a single discipline,” said Prof Sheryl Hendriks of the Institute for Food, Nutrition and Well-being (IFNuW). This came as UP’s cross-disciplinary approach to research was once more in the spotlight when IFNuW hosted a guest lecture by an international expert.

Prof Catherine Champagne is the Chief of Nutritional Epidemiology, Dietary Assessment and Counselling at the Pennington Biomedical Research Centre, Louisiana State University, USA. She is also adjunct professor at the School of Human Ecology, as well as at the Department of Food Science.

Prof Champagne delivered a guest lecture on obesity and related chronic diseases at the University of Pretoria. She spoke on the institutional components of getting different disciplines to work together. Most of the research findings indicated that people who tried to lose weight, were more successful using a holistic approach which included psychologists, sports scientists, dieticians, nutritionists and medical doctors.

The Biomedical Research Centre is internationally recognised for its research on obesity and chronic disease. Prof Champagne explained the successes over the last 25 years of the transdisciplinary research model used by the centre.

Researchers from Pennington’s 48 laboratories and 19 research facilities collaborate on the research of comprehensive, prevention-based solutions to disease and the improvement of the science of nutrition.