Tim Spector Explained

Tim Spector
Alma Mater:St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical CollegeLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Timothy David Spector (born 1958) is a British epidemiologist, medical doctor, and science writer, working on the relationship between nutrition, the gut microbiome, and health. He argues against low-fat diets and fad diets,[1] and instead advocates for a Mediterranean-style diet that is heavily plant-based, high in fibre, limits ultra-processed foods, and includes a diversity of plants.[2]

Biography

Spector was born in North London[3] in July 1958.[4] His mother was an Australian physiotherapist and competitive swimmer; his father was Walter Graham Spector (1924–1982), an eminent pathologist.

After being privately educated at University College School, London, Spector trained in medicine at St Bartholomew's hospital medical school.

He rose to the position of consultant rheumatologist, before turning to genetic epidemiology, the study of genetic factors in health and disease, in 1992.

Spector is professor of genetic epidemiology and director of the TwinsUK registry at King's College London.[5] He is a specialist in twin studies, genetics, epigenetics, and microbiome and diet.[6] [7]

He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to the Covid-19 response. He was also appointed Senior Investigator at the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).[8]

Twin studies

Spector's team at King's College have, since 1992, enrolled 15,000 sets of identical twins in the TwinsUK studies, leading to many studies on the heritability of diseases and disorders. Spector states the goal is "to understand nature versus nurture".

The Diet Myth

Spector's book The Diet Myth: The Real Science Behind What We Eat was published in 2015.[9] The book explains how gut microbiotas interact with different dietary habits and how the gut microbiome can determine health and longevity.[10] [11] [12] [13] It received positive reviews in science journals.[12] [14] Spector argues for a diet that increases gut microbe diversity. To do this he recommends increasing fibre content, avoiding junk food and ultra-processed foods, and experimenting with different fresh foods.[15] [16]

Spoon Fed

In his book Spoon Fed (2020), Spector discusses how microbes may affect mental health.[17]

COVID Symptom Study

See main article: COVID Symptom Study. In March 2020, during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK, Spector made use of twins already taking part in a genetic study to begin an investigation of COVID-19 symptoms. Working with researchers at King's College, Guy's and St Thomas' Hospitals, an app used by twins to record nutrition was used as the basis for the COVID Symptom Study app to allow members of the public to make a daily record of their symptoms and state of health.[18] By July 2020 the app had more than 4 million users,[19] and the next month the project received grant funding from the Department of Health and Social Care.[20] Development and operation of the app involves Zoe Global Limited (now Zoe Limited), a nutrition advice company co-founded by Spector in 2017.[21]

Spector became the public face of the study, releasing periodic summaries via YouTube from June 2020 onwards.[22]

Selected publications

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://health.spectator.co.uk/advice-against-eating-fat-was-wrong-it-is-time-the-experts-admitted-it/ "Advice against eating fat was wrong. It is time the experts admitted it"
  2. Web site: Go with your gut: scientist Tim Spector on why food is not just fuel. 2024-06-20. Geddes. Linda. 2022-05-15. The Guardian.
  3. Web site: Murgia. Madhumita. 31 July 2021. Tim Spector: the data explorer who uncovered vital clues to Covid. 1 August 2021. Financial Times. subscription.
  4. Web site: Appointments: Timothy David SPECTOR. 1 August 2021. Companies House.
  5. Web site: Tim Spector - Research Portal. King's College London . 2024-04-08.
  6. Jozuka . Emiko . Ditch the diet if you want to lose weight says genetic expert Tim Spector . . 2016-05-27 . 2024-04-08.
  7. News: Elsa Vulliamy . Want to to [''sic''] lose weight? Try eating chocolate and drinking wine ]. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/healthy-living/want-to-to-lose-weight-try-eating-cheese-and-chocolate-a6978566.html . 7 May 2022 . subscription . live . . 2017-07-08.
  8. Web site: Tim Spector the Author Professor of Genetic Epidemiology and Director of the TwinsUK . 2022-03-01 . www.tim-spector.co.uk.
  9. https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-4683-1151-8 "The Diet Myth: The Real Science Behind What We Eat"
  10. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/jan/29/magical-microbes-how-to-feed-your-gut "Magical microbes – how to feed your gut"
  11. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/03/books/review/the-diet-myth-the-good-gut-and-the-hidden-half-of-nature.html "'The Diet Myth,' 'The Good Gut' and 'The Hidden Half of Nature'"
  12. Handysides, Stuart. (2016). Books: The Diet Myth: The Real Science Behind What We Eat. British Journal of General Practice 66 (648): 378–379.
  13. https://www.bmj.com/content/360/bmj.k319 "Tim Spector: Go with your gut"
  14. Craig, Jeffrey M. (2016). Myths Microbes and Manipulation—Sensible Advice From the Diet Inspector: A Review of The Diet Myth by Tim Spector. Twin Research and Human Genetics 19 (4): 404-405.
  15. Spector . Tim . Spring 2016 . Advice From the Experts: The Diet Myth . 29 . InTouch . London . King's College London . 30017439 . April 8, 2024.
  16. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/how-to-eat-healthily-vegetables-fruit-poo-capsules-healthy-eating-food-a8602676.html "From 30 vegetables a week to faecal transplants: Keeping your gut microbiome happy is the key to healthy eating"
  17. Web site: Geddes . Linda . Go with your gut: Scientist Tim Spector on why food is not just fuel . . 15 May 2022 . 8 April 2024.
  18. News: Wakefield. Jane. 2020-03-25. Coronavirus: Tracking app aims for one million downloads. en-GB. BBC News. 2021-07-25.
  19. Wise. Jacqui. 2020-07-20. Covid-19: Study reveals six clusters of symptoms that could be used as a clinical prediction tool. BMJ. en. 370. m2911. 10.1136/bmj.m2911. 1756-1833. 32690476. free.
  20. Web site: 19 August 2020. Expansion of national testing study will offer new COVID-19 insights. 2020-11-01. GOV.UK. Department of Health and Social Care. en.
  21. Web site: Zoe Limited. 25 July 2021. Companies House.
  22. Web site: ZOE: Videos. 2021-07-25. YouTube.
  23. News: Bee Wilson . Spoon-Fed by Tim Spector review – food myths busted . . 2021-01-28.
  24. News: Peter Forbes . Book review – Identically Different: Why You Can Change Your Genes by Tim Spector . . 2017-07-08.

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