[1] The Medical Research Council (MRC), founded in 1913, had previously had a Human Nutrition Research Unit at the end of the Second World War; this was founded and directed by BS Platt, and was interested in serious nutritional deficiencies in children, that would cause significantly premature death.

HNR was formed in order to continue to advance the MRC's portfolio of strategic and applied nutrition research.

They found that people who had lost 9 lb in weight had reduced the chances of having diabetes by 58%.

In 2007, a study was conducted to research the effect of negative weight stigmas on patients.

The conclusion was that in several cases, the belief in the negative weight stigmas led to overeating and bad health habits in patients who were studies.