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School for Cross-faculty Studies Global Sustainable Development

Alice Coffey

Contact details

Email: Alice dot Coffey at warwick dot ac dot uk
Twitter: @AliceCoffey19
 

Current PhD student

Biography

I am currently in my final 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 graduated from my Master’s of Public Health at the University of Warwick in 2021 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. While studying I have also undertaken teaching within GSD, including running seminars, presenting lectures, supporting students with coursework and marking assessments.

I have co-authored several publications, shown below and presented my findings at several conferences.

Away from research, 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 a mixed methods project, focusing on sustainable diets and their effect on child health. Looking at how well vegan and vegetarian diets meet child nutrition requirements and how environmentally sustainable they are. These diets will then be assessed for acceptability in parents and health visitors, to understand stakeholder views. Policy recommendations will be created 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 Professor Oyinlola OyebodeLink opens in a new window and Rob Lillywhite.

Academic background

Supervisors

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
  • August 2023- 'Meat versus meat alternatives: which is better for the environment and health? A nutritional and environmental analysis of animal-based products compared with their plant-based alternatives.' Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics (2023). DOI:
    https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.13219
  • October 2023- 'Metabolic changes following intermittent fasting: A rapid review of systematic reviews' Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics (2023). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.13253
  • July 2024- 'Changing the food environment in secondary school canteens to promote healthy dietary choices: a qualitative study with school caterers'. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19513-7Link opens in a new window
  • November 2024- 'Evaluating the nutritional availability of vegetarian and vegan diets: a cross-sectional analysis of dietary data for UK children ages 2-12'. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)02058-0

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.