News, Media & BLOGS

Video: Obesity, diet and health research | Academy of Medical Sciences, 27 June 2018

Department for Education Open Consultation: Revised Standards for food in schools

Let's talk about food not nutrients 

Seeing past the labels - Foodswitch app launched

Listen to my podcast about the UK Responsibility Deal given at the recent 20th European Congress on Obesity

Government obesity adviser calls for action on sugary drinks The Guardian

Yes, I work with the food industry but I doubt they see me as a friend The Guardian - Comment is free 

Nutritional labelling on menus helps cut the calories we buy The Conversation

I am a public health nutrition scientist with a particular interest in how we can support healthier and more sustainable diets to improve the health of people and the planet.  I co-lead the Health Behaviours team, and our research spans  a range of research methods including systematic reviews, observational epidemiology, experimental studies, qualitative research and health economics, but with an emphasis on intervention development and testing in feasibility or large scale trials.  

My personal research interests lie in two principal areas. First, to encourage healthier and more sustainable food purchasing, through support to consumers or choice architecture interventions in store, and we work with partners in grocery stores and canteens. Second, to develop and test interventions for the treatment of obesity. Our team have led studies which have resulted in national policies for weight management in routine care, the diabetes prevention programme and low-calorie diet programme aiming for diabetes remission. We welcome applications from prospective DPhil students in these two areas.

I have a particular interest in the translation of nutrition science into policy and practice and in 2008 I was awarded an OBE for services to public health. I was the science advisor for the Foresight report on obesity,  and have chaired numerous policy-related groups. I am currently a member of advisory boards for Public Health England, NHS England and the National Food Strategy.

I am keen to encourage greater public involvement in our research  and to ensure that scientific evidence is communicated to the public to enable informed decisions about what to eat. I  regularly contribute to media features on food or obesity and have taken part in several BBC documentaries on diet and health.