PhD/GTA Studentship: Barriers to activity in adults who are obese

Obesity is a major public health problem, nationally and globally. It is recognised that increasing physical activity is a cornerstone to reducing obesity at both population and individual levels, but current behavioural change and exercise-based approaches have had limited impact. Further work is needed to understand the functional capacity of adults who are obese, which may lead to more novel and appropriate interventions. Recent work has highlighted differences in movement patterns and balance in adults who are obese,1 and shown that they may experience musculoskeletal pain which might lead to fear of movement and increased risk of falls or ‘fear of falling’.2,3 These issues may affect activity participation and undertaking of incidental activities. ‘Fear of falling’ is an established psychological concept in older populations, in whom it is associated with falls, functional limitation, low mood and low activity participation. Self-report instruments to measure this phenomenon have been developed in the elderly, but have not been validated in obese younger and middleaged populations. In the main, they consider low order activities and focus on concerns about loss of independence, which may be less of a concern in younger and middle-aged populations. Better instruments, validated in adults who are obese may be warranted and the relationship between pain, fear of pain and ‘fear of falling’ needs to be explored. This PhD would focus on understanding the functional barriers to incidental and physical activity in adults who are obese and how these can be measured in populations, to suggest future strategies to promote activity and movement. This is an exciting opportunity to work with academics from epidemiology, psychology and sports.

Informal enquiries about this PhD should be addressed to Professor Paola Dey [Email Address Removed]

References
1. Teasdale N, Simoneau M, Corbeil P. et al. Obesity Alters Balance and Movement Control. Curr Obes Rep. 2013;2:235
2. Zdziarski LA, Wasser JG, Vincent HK. Chronic Pain Management in the obese patient: a focused review of key challenges and potential exercise solutions. J Pain Res. 2015 Feb 9;8:63-77. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S55360. eCollection 2015.
3. Rosic G, Dey P, Richards J and Milston A. Fear of Falling: The effects on activity participation in younger overweight women. Obesity Facts. 2013;Vol. 6(Suppl. 1): 173.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Students will be expected to:
- Successfully undertake an initial programme of accredited research training.
- Undertake a PhD programme of research under the supervision of an appointed supervisory team.
- Enhance the research culture of the Department in which they are located, the Research Institute to which they are attached, and the University by participating in events, conferences and training.
- Successfully complete a programme of teacher training.
- Undertake up to six hours teaching a week or working with the Institute to which they are attached alongside University Departments or external agencies or organizations as directed by their Head of Department/Research Institute Director.

Eligibility:
- Candidates should have, or be expected to obtain, a good undergraduate honours degree level (2:1 or above) and/or a Masters level qualifications in a relevant subject area achieved within the last three to five years. If their most recent qualifications were obtained outside this period and/or they do not possess a Masters level qualification there needs to be convincing evidence that they will be able to make the transition to doctoral study.
- Although it is possible for candidates to apply for the GTA scheme more than once candidates who have applied unsuccessfully on two or more occasions are unlikely to be shortlisted for interview.
- International candidates who require a visa to study in the UK will need to demonstrate that they meet the requirements for a Tier 4 visa and possess appropriate English Language skills (IELTS Level C1/C2 or equivalent).
- Applications are not normally accepted from candidates who already possess a PhD, unless there are compelling reasons for doing so. If a PhD has been obtained in the UK as a Tier 4 (General) Student Visa holder, further sponsorship cannot be offered
under the Tier 4 (General) Student Visa category, as this will not meet the academic progression requirements set by the UKVI.

How to apply
Applicants must complete the online application form, attaching one document
containing:
- A ‘Research Proposal’ which should not exceed 2,000 words in length
- A full academic curriculum vitae

Selection Criteria:
Selection will be based on the following:
- Your curriculum vitae
- The synergy between your qualifications, research experience and declared research interest
- Performance at interview
- Supervisory capacity in the declared area of research
- Previous tutoring/teaching experience and related subject based qualifications
- The strategic and developmental needs of the Faculty

The Recruitment Process
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview and asked to give a presentation related to their research proposal. Successful candidates at interview will be put forward to a final selection panel which will make the decision on the award of the studentships. Candidates will not have to attend the final panel.

The closing date for all studentships is 5th May 2017