Upcoming CanPath Webinar on Ultra-processed food consumption, depression, and diabetes

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a widespread chronic condition with severe consequences, including complications affecting blood vessels and organs, disability, and premature death. Research indicates that depression can significantly raise the risk of developing T2D, potentially through lifestyle and biological factors. Additionally, our modern diet presents a challenge with the increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF), which have been linked to a higher risk of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. In this webinar, Dr. Norbert Schmitz and Dr. Akankasha Sen will share the synergistic effects of depression and UPF consumption on T2D risk and the risk of developing diabetes-specific complications for those with type 2 diabetes. Using longitudinal data from the CARTaGENE cohort, Dr. Schmitz and colleagues demonstrate whether the combination of these factors exacerbates the likelihood of developing T2D beyond their individual effects and whether other mechanisms affect the association, like smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity. Additional Details and Registration: https://canpath.ca/2024/03/webinar-ultra-processed-food-consumption-depression-diabetes/

Dr. Jennifer Vena and Dr. Rachel Murphy at #CCRC2023

Dr. Jennifer Vena and Dr. Rachel Murphy will be attending the Canadian Cancer Research Conference from Alberta and British Columbia. Dr. Vena is the Scientific Director of Alberta’s Tomorrow Project and a Research Scientist at CancerControl Alberta with Alberta Health Services. Dr. Vena’s research interests focus on lifestyle behaviours and prevention of cancer and chronic diseases, as well as population cohort science, and involves scientific, strategic, and operational elements. Dr. Vena will be presenting a poster on the dietary screener that was developed to assess adherence to Canada’s Food Guide and how it could be used for cancer prevention research. Posters will be up for the duration of the conference and during viewing sessions on Sunday, November 12th from 12-1:30pm AST and Monday, November 13th from 1:10-2:40pm AST.  Dr. Murphy is a Senior Scientist at BC Cancer and an Associate Professor at the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Murphy’s research interests include reducing the risk of cancer through modifiable lifestyle factors, with a focus on healthy eating and body weight. Additional interests include older adults and other populations with increased risk of cancer, knowledge translation of nutrition evidence, and metabolomics; the study of small molecules in biological systems that may provide insight on pathways linking lifestyle factors and disease.   Dr. Murphy will be presenting at and chairing a session with Patient Partner, Rachelle Bould on Reducing Your Risk of Cancer on Tuesday, November 14th at 9:00am AST. The presenters include:  Dr. Rachel Murphy (University of British Columbia, BC Cancer) speaking about diet, geographies and risk for cancer  Dr. Laura Struik (University of British Columbia) speaking about factors influencing youth vaping uptake  Dr. Paul Demers (Occupational Cancer Research Centre, Ontario Health) speaking about the etiology of rare cancers in a large occupational cohort  Umaima Abbas (University of Western Ontario) speaking about the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of population level policies to reduce alcohol use