Three experts are taking part in a discussion on obesity at our Annual Conference next week. The session will take place on Wednesday 10 April 2013 (9.15-10.45 am) in the Queens Suite 1 at the Harrogate International Centre under the title “Obesity in the UK: Psychological perspectives on a modern epidemic”.

Dr Julie Waumsley was the Chair of the Society’s Obesity Working Group and co-author of the ‘Obesity in the UK: A psychological perspective’ report. Dr Waumsley is a Chartered Psychologist and a Senior Lecturer in Psychology and Counselling at the University of Northampton.

Professor Paul Bissell is Director of the Public Health Section of the University of Sheffield’s School of Health and Related Research. He currently manages a major programme of research around weight management and obesity for the National Institute for Health Research Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care for South Yorkshire. 

This programme is a cohort study of adults in south Yorkshire, which aims to better understand issues around the self-management of overweight and obesity and its impact on health care utilisation. Professor Bissell also leads a longitudinal qualitative study looking at the habitual and unreflected aspects of food consumption and dietary practices in families in south Yorkshire as part of this programme of work.

Dr Marie Prince is a Chartered Psychologist and Senior Clinical Psychologist at the Glasgow Clyde Weight Management Service.  Dr Prince has recently written about a new treatment programme developed by the Glasgow Clyde Weight Management Service.