Question: Do you believe you have the ability to help change the world and improve healthy eating? What do you think you could do that would almost definitely help with obesity in the UK? Do you want to help people in other countries too?

Anais Kahve answered on 6 Mar 2016:

Hello, thank you for your questions. I have recently come to realise that one way of making change in the world is through education. I believe that I can make a contribution towards healthy eating through my research, but I have to be able to communicate this in an effective way – through education. But why would people listen to me? I’m only 23! Over the years I hope that I will become a respected and credible scientist and that people will listen to the research into obesity. Through my research I will hopefully be able to influence what types of oils food manufacturers add to food. Everyone knows that olive oil is the best (yet most expensive) kind of oil to eat, but until there is enough evidence to support this claim, manufacturers will still use cheaper oils that are not as good for us. If I and other scientists around the world can find this evidence then I hope to change the law and forbid manufacturers from using oils and fats in food that are harmful to our health. With regards to obesity in the UK I think that people are thinking about obesity seriously: 1). The government is trying to change some of the laws and wants to tax sugary foods (as both sugary and fatty foods are linked to obesity), 2). There are phone apps to help people lose weight, and 3). The London Olympics left a legacy for sport and healthy eating. More can be done I am sure, but until there is hard evidence to show how certain oils are causing obesity then unfortunately, obesity will continue to rise globally. I hope I have answered your questions! Anais