Alice Coffey

Contact details

Email: Alice dot Coffey at warwick dot ac dot uk

Current PhD student

Biography

I am currently in my first year as a PhD student in Global Sustainable Development as part of the TRANSFORM programme, funded by the Leverhulme Trust. My research is focused on sustainable diets and child health, incorporating policy and how policy impacts health inequalities. I have recently graduated from my Master’s of Public Health at the University of Warwick and I have a first-class degree in Nutrition and Health from Coventry University. I have experience as a research assistant for the Warwick Obesity Network based at the University of Warwick, and as a research assistant at the University of Birmingham. Within these roles I have co-written a literature review on the effects of intermittent fasting on weight loss, metabolic health and insulin resistance and I have also undertaken qualitative research and analysis. I also have experience as a Project Coordinator for a community food project for the Active Wellbeing Society, a health-based charity in Birmingham.

Research overview

My research is on sustainable diets and their effect on child health. I will also be looking at policy recommendations following these findings, and how these policies impact health inequalities. My research will be on young children aged 2-12 in the UK, as children in the UK endure co-morbidities associated with diet. I have chosen the UK as my focus as it has a high carbon footprint, and a large portion of this derives from diet. This project will be supervised by Dr Oyinlola Oyebode and Dr Rob Lillywhite.

Academic background

PhD Global Sustainable Development - University of Warwick
MSc Public Health - University of Warwick
BSc (Hons) Nutrition and Health - Coventry University

Supervisors

Dr Oyinlola Oyebode - Warwick Medical School
Dr Rob Lillywhite - School of Life Sciences

Research interests

Nutrition and diet
Sustainability
Inequalities
Health Protection
Child Health
Food Policy

Funding and awards

2021-2025: Leverhulme Trust Doctoral Scholarship

Publications

October 2021 - 'COVID-19 Outcomes in Minority Ethnic Groups: Do Obesity and Metabolic Risk Play a Role?'. Current Obesity Reports (2021): 1, 1-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-021-00459-5

Media

Podcast (2021) - In this podcast myself and Petra Hanson discuss whether intermittent fasting actually works and whether it has a role in weight loss and diabetes management.