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. Dr Ashton’s current interest is in the role of physical activity in the treatment of obesity and its co-morbidities.

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 the co-author of “Why Exercise ?” (Blackwell 1986) and author of “The Healthy Heart Handbook for Women” (Random House 2000). 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 latest publication on Food Advertising and Childhood Obesity, was published in the Royal Society of Medicine and the Guardian newspaper. The full text for the Guardian article can be found here.

Dr Ashton’s interests outside medicine include the philosophy of science, cycling and – of course – walking!

Read more about Dr David Ashton in the news,
and about the science behind our weight to go foods.