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Philip James (nutritionist)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

William Philip Trehearne James (June 27, 1938 – October 5, 2023) was a British professor.[1]

Early life and education

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James was born in Liverpool, England in 1938, but grew up in Bala, Snowdonia, Wales.[2][3] His family members were Quakers.[3]

James attended Ackworth School and later studied medicine at UCL Medical School.[2][1]

Career

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In 1965, James was sent by the Medical Research Council to study malnutrition in Jamaica, where he developed treatments for children with severe malnutrition and diarrhoea.[2][1] He later became director of the Rowett Institute in 1982, a leading nutrition research institute, and worked on projects for the World Health Organization (WHO).[2][1]

In the early 1980s, James co-authored a report by the National Advisory Committee on Nutrition Education, which provided recommendations on reducing fat, sugar, and salt intake in the British diet.[2]

In 1995, James founded the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) and organized the first WHO global burden analysis of obesity, highlighting the substantial disease burden associated with high Body mass index.[2] He also established the International Association for the Study of Obesity (now the World Obesity Federation), serving as its president from 2007 to 2014.[2]

Awards and recognition

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James was elected to Fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1986 and appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1993.[2]

William Philip T James Award is named after him.[3]

Personal life

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James was married to Jean Moorhouse from 1961 until his death, and they had two children.[2][3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "William Philip Trehearne James - The Lancet".
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Pioneer in war on the 'tidal wave' of obesity". The Sydney Morning Herald. November 26, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d Trayhurn, Paul (January 18, 2024). "Professor William Philip Trehearne James, FRSE FMedSci CBE (1938–2023)". Journal of Nutritional Science. 13: e13. doi:10.1017/jns.2024.2. PMC 10988140 – via Cambridge University Press.