Our work:
Changing behaviours for better health and preventing disease
Why this research:
Many of the conditions that cause premature death and early onset of disability are preventable through improved diet and keeping a healthy body weight.
We are working with supermarkets and in other food settings to change the way food is promoted and supporting individuals to understand and make better choices, making it easier to eat a healthy diet. For people with excess weight, we are working to implement and examine the impact of support for weight loss provided through the NHS and local authorities.
Throughout our work, we are conscious that the burden of preventable disease falls on the poorest in society, so we design programmes with this in mind and examine their impact across all sectors of society.
Theme lead
Workstreams in this research area:
Testing implementation interventions to produce a step-change in weight management in the community
Interventions to improve the nutritional quality of food purchases
Projects in this theme
REthiNking Approaches to Excess Weight in AdoLescents (RENEWAL)
Exploring innovative weight management strategies for adolescents, this study examines mobile apps and gathers insights from young people and their parents, aiming to develop tailored, effective solutions for healthier futures.
Health Economic Aspects of Childhood Excess Weight
This project assesses the economic impact of childhood obesity in the UK, focusing on healthcare costs and quality of life outcomes, with the aim of informing effective prevention strategies and resource allocation.
WHEEL – Weight cHange for people with sErious mEntal iLlness
WHEEL focuses on improving access to weight management services for people with serious mental illnesses, aiming to reduce health risks and enhance overall wellbeing.
Very Brief Opportunistic Advice on Smoking Cessation within Financial Guidance Services for People Living in Social Housing
This project evaluates the integration of smoking cessation advice within financial guidance services for social housing residents, assessing the feasibility and acceptability of providing health support in financial advice settings to improve both health outcomes and financial well-being.
Greater Manchester (GM) Social Housing Stop Smoking Pilot Initiative and Evaluation
The Greater Manchester Social Housing Stop Smoking Pilot evaluates tailored smoking cessation strategies for social housing residents, aiming to reduce smoking prevalence and associated health inequalities through stakeholder-engaged interventions.
Evaluating Smoking Cessation Services in Citizens Advice Bureaus
This project evaluates a new smoking cessation service at Citizens Advice Bureaus, which combines brief advice, referral to support programs, and financial incentives, aimed at helping individuals in financial hardship quit smoking and improve their health.
Priorities in Obesity and Weight-related Research: The POWER Survey
The POWER project saught to determine key research priorities in obesity and weight management by engaging the public, healthcare professionals, and policymakers in a democratic process, using surveys and workshops to create a list of critical, unanswered questions that will guide future research efforts to develop more effective interventions for obesity.
Adults Regulating Their weight Everyday with Mobile Internet Support (ARTEMIS): A randomised controlled trial
ARTEMIS is a randomised controlled trial that investigates the effectiveness of a mobile application designed to help adults living with obesity manage their weight.
Using Behavioural Insights to Improve Effectiveness of Digital Weight Loss Interventions
Researchers from the University of Oxford and Second Nature, a digital weight management service provider, are collaborating to develop and test new features to improve digital weight loss programmes using behavioural science insights.
Improving the quality of food shopping for the prevention of diet-related disease
Addressing diet-related disease prevention through smarter food choices, this project develops the SwapSHOP app to guide healthier food swaps and collaborates with retailers for environmental interventions, aiming for widespread impact on diet and health outcomes.