Teaching
I teach behavioural medicine, communication skills and research skills to medical undergraduates, and students on the ScotGEM programme. I developed and led on taught postgraduate modules, taught and supervised research on the MSc Health Psychology programme [2009-2022]. I supervise MSc and Phd students.
My School Roles:
- MD5003 MSc Health Psychology Module Controller
- MD5090 MSc Health Psychology Module Controller
- Postgrad Exam Coordinator for MSc Health Psychology
- Personal Tutor (BSc Hons, ScotGEM)
- Medical Assessment team member
- PGR Committee member - rep for Disabilities & for Population and Behavioural Sciences
- Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee member
- Ethics committee member and vice-convenor (population, people, education)
- MD4002 strand lead for Population and Behavioural Science
Research areas
My research interests include:
- eating behaviour, obesity
- healthcare communication
- wellbeing and health behaviours
I take an interdisciplinary approach (physiological, psychological, behavioural, genetics) to understanding the question of individual susceptibility to obesity, conducting empirical research (lab, community-based) in human populations across the age span. My research includes otherwise-healthy children and adults, and those ranging from people who are underweight to those with obesity. I look at factors that create so-called obesogenic environments (e.g. portion size) as well as individual characteristics (e.g. trait eating behaviours, genetics). I combine my obesity expertise with interests in clinical communication, where I have developed a research program investigating healthcare communication within the context of patient overweight and obesity in primary care. My research on wellbeing investigates health behaviours and how they contribute to stress, resilience and burnout in medical students and doctors.
PhD supervision
- Emma Gale
- Emma Gale
Selected publications
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Open access
'You just eyeball it’: parent and nursery staff perceptions and influences on child portion size: a reflexive thematic analysis
Quirke-McFarlane, S., Carstairs, S. A. & Cecil, J. E., 16 Apr 2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Nutrition and Health. OnlineFirst, 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
The relationship between multiple sleep dimensions and obesity in adolescents: a systematic review
Gale, E. L., Williams, A. J. & Cecil, J. E., Feb 2024, In: Sleep Medicine Reviews. 73, 11 p., 101875.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
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Open access
A qualitative study of young peoples’ thoughts and attitudes to follow a more plant-based diet
McInnes, C., Carstairs, S. A. & Cecil, J. E., 31 Aug 2023, In: Frontiers in Psychology. 14, 12 p., 1196142.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
A social norms and identity approach to increasing fruit and vegetable intake of undergraduate students in the United Kingdom
Fischera, W., van Beusekom, M., Higgs, S. & Cecil, J., 17 May 2022, In: Frontiers in Psychology. 13, 13 p., 838394.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Heard, valued, supported? Doctors' wellbeing during transitions triggered by COVID-19
Gordon, L., Scanlan, G. M., Tooman, T. R., Walker, K. A., Cairns, P., Ferguson, J., Aitken, G., Cecil, J., Cunningham, K. B., Gibson Smith, K., Johnston, P. W., Laidlaw, A., Pope, L. M. & Wakeling, J., 10 Apr 2022, In: Medical Education. 56, 5, 11 p., 14698.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Predictors of weight discussion in primary care consultations: a multilevel modelling approach
McHale, C. T., Laidlaw, A. H. & Cecil, J. E., Mar 2022, In: Patient Education and Counseling. 105, 3, p. 502-511Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Rest and relaxation spaces: accessibility and availability for wellbeing of doctors
Walker, K., Aitken, G., Cunningham, K. B., Gibson Smith, K., Scanlan, G., Cecil, J. E. & Gordon, L., 28 Oct 2022, In: Medical Education. 19, S2, p. 55 e13542.Research output: Contribution to journal › Abstract › peer-review
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Open access
Risk factors for overweight and obesity within the home environment of preschool children in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review
Kwansa, A. L., Akparibo, R., Cecil, J. E., Infield Solar, G. & Caton, S. J., 20 Apr 2022, In: Nutrients. 14, 9, 24 p., 1706.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
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Open access
Supporting doctors’ well-being and resilience during COVID-19: a framework for rapid and rigorous intervention development
Gibson Smith, K., Cunningham, K. B., Cecil, J. E., Laidlaw, A., Cairns, P., Scanlan, G., Tooman, T. R., Aitken, G., Ferguson, J., Gordon, L., Johnston, P., Pope, L., Wakeling, J. & Walker, K., 7 Feb 2022, In: Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being. 14, 1, p. 236-251 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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The relationship between multiple sleep dimensions and obesity in adolescents: a systematic review
Gale, E. L., Williams, A. J. & Cecil, J. E., 17 Nov 2022.Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster