A poll of students at the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth found that 68.7%of the students questioned thought schools should not be able to dictate their diet and 100% of those asked said they would choose the healthy option and were aware of the hazards of a junk food diet. 770 students replied to the poll.

Some of the students who replied in the poll are this week attending a 'Don't Supersize Me: Medical Science' course at the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth's summer school at the University of Warwick. Comments from the students on that course included:

"If I was given the choice, since I know the facts about how sleepy junk food can make you, I would rather eat the healthy choice. I would rather eat something that would keep you going for the rest of the day than something that gives you a quick burst." (Shaaji)

"I totally disagree that it should depend on the school on what we eat. Realistically they're beginning to control what we eat, which is absurd. " (Hasan)

Students participating in the 'Don't Supersize Me: Medical Sciences Course' will spend the course learning about and evaluating the molecular biology basis and potential treatment rationale for a number of associated diseases with regard to obesity. Students (aged between 11-16) will investigate subjects normally only taught at PhD level.

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Researchers found that pro-inflammatory prostaglandin (PGE-2) levels were 83 percent lower in tumors in the omega-3 group than in mice on the predominantly omega-6 fatty acid diet, demonstrating that higher levels of DHA and EPA may lead to development of more anti-inflammatory prostaglandins.

"This is one of the first studies showing changes in diet can impact the inflammatory response that may play a role in prostate cancer tumor growth," Aronson said. "We may be able to use EPA and DHA supplements while also reducing omega-6 fatty acids in the diet as a cancer prevention tool or possibly to reduce progression in men with prostate cancer."

Currently, the research team is conducting a clinical trial with men who are undergoing prostate removal due to cancer to compare the effects of a low-fat diet using omega-3 supplements and a balanced Western diet. Aronson said that positive findings from this study may lead to larger clinical trials.

In addition, Aronson said that further study might show that COX-2 inhibitors or non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) combined with omega-3 supplements also may lower the inflammatory response in prostate cancer development.

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