Rebecca Cupac

Thesis Title: Diet and Mental Stress

The goal of this project is to establish whether provision of knowledge about the link between mental stress and eating choices motivates healthier consumption both in the short and longer term. Our lab has recently shown that consuming high-fat foods during a single episode of stress result in reductions in brain oxygenation and poorer vascular function in young healthy adults, in comparison to low-fat foods. Likewise, foods rich in plant flavonoids can prevent the harmful effects of stress on the vascular system. Studies have only been conducted in laboratory settings previously, so this study specifically aims to use EMA to track eating habits, mood and stress in real-time analysis. This is to investigate whether specific nutritional advice encourages behaviour change to consume flavonoid-based foods.

I previously completed an undergraduate degree in Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Science at Loughborough University, specialising in psychological, behaviour change techniques. After graduating, I have worked in an Exercise Rehabilitation Centre leading a research team. Specifically, I was exploring the influence of artificial intelligence technology with upper limb function among post-stroke hemiplegic patients. After several years, I moved on work at a county-level research organisation exploring health inequalities in seldom heard communities within the region.

Sport & Exercise Science

University of Birmingham

2024 Cohort

Email:

Supervisory Team:

Catarina Rendeiro

Suzanne Higgs