Supervisor: Dr James Hollis (j.hollis@qub.ac.uk)
Background: The number of overweight or obese people in the UK has increased rapidly. In the absence of successful intervention strategies, the incidence of obesity is forecast to rise to 60% of the population by 2050. The economic implications of this are significant with direct healthcare costs of overweight and obesity amounting to £45.5 billion pounds (at today's prices) by 2050. Moreover, the social effects are substantial due to overweight and obesity being associated with increased morbidity, mortality and reduced quality of life.
Obesity develops when long-term energy intake is greater than energy expenditure. The environmental and physiological factors that promote over consumption are still poorly understood. However, it is clear that isocaloric portions of different foods have divergent effects on appetite and satiety. The reasons for this are unknown but likely result from differences in factors such as macronutrient content or food structure (such as rheology). A full understanding of how food characteristics influence subjective appetite or physiological markers of appetite will provide insights into how the appetite system operates. Moreover, data from this project will be useful in designing new foods that promote satiety and aid weight management.
Project aim: The aim of this project is to investigate how altering food characteristics (e.g., aeration, rheology, viscosity) influences ingestive behaviour and appetite. The project will consist of a series of studies using human participants.
Project plan: The project will include the following experimental work:
- Determination of how food characteristics alter mastication parameters and food bolus parameters
- Determination of how food characteristics alter subjective appetite
- Determination of how food characteristics influence post-prandial physiology
Candidates for this position will possess at least a 2(i) degree in Human Nutrition, Food Science, Psychology or a related subject.
Closing date: Friday 25 April 2008
The position is available for 3 years from September 2008. The successful applicant will receive a studentship of £12,600 (to cover maintenance expenses) and approved tuition fees. To be eligible for this studentship, a candidate must have been ordinarily resident in the UK or elsewhere in the European Union throughout the period of 3 years immediately preceding the start of the studentship (or would have been so resident had the candidate, the spouse or either parent not been employed temporarily outside the UK or the EU).For informal discussions contact Dr James Hollis (+44 (0)28 9097 6547; j.hollis@qub.ac.uk).
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- Subject Area:
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- Agriculture & Food
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- Food Science
- Other Agriculture and Related
- Type / Role:
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- PhD Studentship
- Salary:
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- up to £14,999
- Location:
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- Northern Ireland
