Dr David Ashton BSc MD PhD
After graduating with a medical sciences degree from the University of St Andrews, Dr Ashton underwent clinical and postgraduate training at the Victoria University of Manchester where he achieved several academic distinctions. He subsequently completed a doctorate in epidemiology and biostatistics at Imperial College School of Medicine, London, where he now holds a senior academic appointment in the Cardiac Medicine Group.
His research interests include the metabolic aspects of obesity, the relationship between physical activity and cardiovascular diseases and the development and application of screening algorithms for cancer and coronary heart disease. Dr Ashton has wide experience of cardiovascular assessment, including exercise electrocardiography, measurement of aerobic capacity, cardiac rehabilitation and exercise prescription.
He has written guidelines on physical activity for the World Health Organisation and is contributing editor to the Journal of Physical Activity and Health.
David Ashton is the author of numerous articles, scientific papers and book chapters. He is a regular contributor to national and international scientific conferences, has made numerous television and radio appearances and frequently lectures on a wide variety of medical topics to both medical and lay audiences. His publication on Food Advertising and Childhood Obesity, was published in the Royal Society of Medicine and the Guardian newspaper. His latest publication on the lack of evidence for preoperative psychological screening of the obese can be found in Obesity Journal.
Dr Ashton’s interests outside medicine include the philosophy of science, a passion for the philosophy of David Hume and Arthur Schopenhauer, cycling and – of course – walking!
Read Dr Ashton's Healthier Weight Newsletters
May 2009 - More bad news for low carb diets!
April 2009 - Obesity in Women – A Life Cycle of Risk
January 2009 - Is obesity surgery safe?
