Lisa Heggie is a final-year PhD researcher specialising in nutritional epidemiology and public health, dedicated to supporting people living with obesity. She is a member of the Obesity Research Group at University College London and holds a Master's degree in Human Nutrition with specialisation in Obesity Management.
Her early research was centred on Tier 2 adult behavioural weight management interventions within the United Kingdom, aiming to identify effective intervention components to ultimately enhance delivery and improve patient care. In 2020, Lisa joined the Gemini study team, a population-based cohort study of twins born in England and Wales, set up to investigate genetic and environmental influences on early life growth and eating behaviour.
Lisa’s PhD research supports the SWEET, an EU Horizon 2020-funded initiative that focuses on non-nutritive sweeteners and their associations with health outcomes. Her work examines the links between sugar and sweetener consumption during childhood and growth and taste preferences into early adolescence. With a background in sport science, Lisa also has a keen interest in physical activity research (and is a three-time National Champion cheerleader).
In 2020, Lisa helped establish the SWEET New Investigators Group, which has facilitated networking and academic support among SWEET members. Since 2021, she has been an active board member of the ECN. Lisa is excited to connect with other early career professionals across all obesity-related disciplines.
Lisa is the Project Manager for the EASO Collaborating Centres for Obesity Management (COMs) Network, and supports EASO in EU Horizon 2022 projects investigating obesity and wider health across Europe.
Updates on Lisa’s research can be followed on Twitter (@LisaaHeggie), Google Scholar or ORCID.