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PhD project title: Obesity Epidemiology and Policy Analysis


This PhD scholarship will attempt to measure the uncertainties of the
future impacts of the obesity epidemic, in the context of health
policy-making.

 

No simple cause of the obesity 'epidemic' has been identified: Many
factors are involved and difficult to measure. In the absence of easy
objective measures of diet and physical activity, most of the literature
relies on self-reported measures, which have biases that vary over time
and between cultures. Therefore the epidemiological evidence does not
indicate simple modifiable risk factors.

 

The common, crude measure of obesity, body mass index (BMI, weight for
height), reflects fat and lean mass, which incorporates both risk (fat
mass) and protective (lean mass) factors for health, and does not
reflect the additional risk information afforded by the distribution of
fat. Most studies reporting disease risks from obesity have used BMI -
those using fat distribution report disease risks up to 3.5 times
greater, which might indicate that the consequences of the obesity
epidemic have been under-estimated. However, obesity is rising while
coronary heart disease incidence and all-cause mortality are declining.
Although obesity is not a strong risk factor for coronary heart disease,
given that both obesity and coronary heart disease affect large
proportions of the population, small errors in estimating the
relationship between obesity and coronary heart disease will have a
large effect on estimates of the overall disease impact of the obesity
epidemic. Irrespective of the uncertainties over cardiovascular
outcomes, there is a growth in obesity-related/type 2 diabetes incidence
that is starting to stretch most healthcare systems. There is a need for
obesity policy analysis to incorporate complex modeling and simulation
of public health scenarios for tackling obesity.

 


What will the PhD involve?


PhD student will estimate the health impacts of a range of obesity
policies, including current UK policy, using novel epidemiological
techniques. This will involve:

*	A systematic review of the obesity impact and policy literature
- both methods and estimates.
*	Meta-analysis of the major health risk estimates from obesity.
*	Selection/development of statistical simulation methods for
obesity impacts under a range of different policy scenarios and
assumptions.
*	Field-testing of the statistical methods and informational
methods as scenario planning tools in public health/health policy
settings.

Our group offers a unique inter-disciplinary environment of
epidemiologists, statisticians, public health professionals and
informaticians. The parent epidemiology & biostatistics and informatics
groups were rated 5 and 5* in the most recent research assessment
exercise. 


Who would this project suit?


A high-motivated graduate with a strong (2.1 or 1st) degree in
statistics, epidemiology, economics or a related quantitative
discipline. Good verbal and written language skills will be an important
attribute. Competence in the use of information technology is essential
- aptitude for programming will be important for the statistical
simulation work. Experience or expertise in the topic of the research is
not required, but an interest in education and/or health care would be
an advantage. Public health informatics is an emerging field; therefore
this studentship could open up innovative, high profile career pathways.

When will the project start?

 

The project will start in October 2007.


Where will I be based?


The base will be in the Northwest Institute for Bio-Health Informatics
in the Stopford Building (Manchester Medical School) - co-located with
the epidemiology, informatics and biostatistics groups.


Supervisors


The studentship will be supervised from the disciplines of epidemiology,
statistics and informatics by an enthusiastic member of academic staff
who can provide ready access to all the necessary resources, and who
leads and innovative interdisciplinary environment.

The supervisor is Iain Buchan - public health physician, epidemiologist
(focus on obesity and statistical methods), and informatician.


Further information


For general advice about the project or your suitability, please contact
Iain Buchan (buchan <mailto:[log in to unmask]> @manchester.ac.uk)

 

 
Iain Buchan
Director & Senior Lecturer in Public Health Informatics
Northwest Institute for Bio-Health Informatics
Stopford Building (Medical School)
University of Manchester
Oxford Road
MANCHESTER M13 9PT
UK
 
Tel: +44 (0)161 275 5160 (PA 1132)
Fax: +44 (0)161 275 5145
Mobile: +44 (0)7802 85 33 67
[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> 
www.nibhi.org.uk <http://www.nibhi.org.uk/>