How We Score Products
Every Autumn score traces back to published clinical guidelines. Here's how it works.
The BODYSTATE Algorithm
BODYSTATE is a deterministic rules engine — no machine learning, no black box. Every weight is derived from published meta-analyses and UK dietary reference values from SACN (Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition) and NICE guidelines.
Products score 0–100, where higher means healthier for your specific condition profile. The score considers nutrients per 100g including sugar, salt, saturated fat, fibre, energy density, and condition-specific markers.
Swap suggestions require a minimum +15 point improvement to ensure every recommendation is meaningful, not marginal.
Condition-Specific Scoring
Type 2 Diabetes
Prioritises lower free sugars, higher dietary fibre, and lower glycaemic load. Weights derived from SACN Carbohydrates and Health report (2015) and Diabetes UK position statements. Primary nutrient priority: Sugar → Fibre → Energy.
Hypertension
Prioritises lower sodium, adequate potassium, and controlled energy intake. Based on SACN Salt and Health report and NICE NG136 guidelines. Primary nutrient priority: Salt → Potassium → Energy.
Cardiovascular Health
Prioritises lower saturated fat, higher fibre (especially soluble), and lower sodium. Based on SACN Saturated Fats report (2019) and NICE CG181. Primary nutrient priority: Sat fat → Fibre → Salt.
Coeliac Disease
Safety-first: flags gluten-containing ingredients as hard blocks. Among gluten-free alternatives, scores based on fibre, salt, and overall nutritional balance. Based on NICE NG20 and Coeliac UK guidance. Primary priority: Gluten-free → Fibre → Salt.
What We Look At
BODYSTATE evaluates seven key nutritional components per 100g, scored against UK FSA traffic-light thresholds with linear interpolation between boundaries.
Sugar
Total sugars — weighted heavily for Type 2 Diabetes
Saturated Fat
Key driver for CVD and general cardiovascular risk
Salt (Sodium)
Critical for Hypertension — converted using the 393.66 molecular weight ratio
Fibre
Protective factor across all conditions — higher is better
Protein
Contributes to satiety and overall nutritional balance
Energy Density
Kilocalories per 100g — penalises calorie-dense products
Potassium
Condition-specific — important for blood pressure management
Safety & Drug Interactions
Before any swap is surfaced, Autumn runs mandatory drug-nutrient safety checks. Missing safety data triggers an advisory — we never silently omit a potential interaction.
Warfarin & Vitamin K
High vitamin K foods can reduce warfarin effectiveness
Simvastatin & Grapefruit
Grapefruit inhibits CYP3A4, increasing statin blood levels
ACE Inhibitors & Potassium
High potassium intake combined with ACE inhibitors risks hyperkalaemia
Metformin & Vitamin B12
Long-term metformin use can reduce B12 absorption
Safety rules are categorised as hard blocks (swap never shown), strong warnings (flagged prominently), or advisories (informational note). These checks run regardless of condition weighting — safety is never averaged away.
Data Sources
Open Food Facts
Community-maintained nutritional database with 3M+ products
CoFID (McCance and Widdowson's)
PHE's authoritative UK food composition dataset
SACN Reports
Official UK dietary reference values and nutrient thresholds
NICE Clinical Guidelines
Evidence-based care pathways for each condition
Multi-Condition Scoring
When you have multiple health conditions, Autumn blends their nutrient priorities. Your primary condition carries 75% of the weight, with the remaining 25% split equally across secondary conditions.
This ensures the score reflects your most pressing health needs while still accounting for your full condition profile. Drug-nutrient safety checks (e.g., warfarin and vitamin K, statins and grapefruit) are applied regardless of weighting — safety is never averaged away.
Important
Autumn is a decision-support tool, not a medical device. Scores and swap suggestions should complement — not replace — advice from your GP, dietitian, or specialist. Always follow personalised medical advice for managing your conditions.
Have questions?
We'd love to hear from you — whether it's about our methodology, a specific score, or your health condition.
hello@joinautumn.com