We wrote an article explaining why you shouldn't put several variables into a regression model and report which are statistically significant - even as exploratory research. bmjmedicine.bmj.com/content/4/1/.... How did we do?

Lauren Bandy and I got a short piece in BMJ arguing that the proposed changes to UK sugar drink tax target the wrong end of the market. Changing the threshold where tax is applied from 5g sugar/100mL to 4g only hurts those that have ALREADY reformulated and changes nothing for high sugar drinks.

Earlier this month, all our researchers & co-investigators got together at the University of Bedfordshire in Luton. We discussed topics such as engaging youth in research, public involvement, and ensuring meaningful impact. Read more here: www.linkedin.com/posts/nihr-p...

To have this as the policy for a mental health service is *wild*. If someone does not attend a mental health assessment appointment, they're probably worse not better...

We're are now accepting applications for an exciting DPhil at the @oxprimarycare.bsky.social, *FUNDED* by the THRIVING Food Futures research hub! The project is about divisive policies, supervised by me, Dr Rachel Pechey @petescarbs.bsky.social @ashakaur.bsky.social lnkd.in/eezGaZZ3 Pls share! ✨

Just back from attending another excellent @socsocmed.bsky.social conference #SSM2025 It was great catching up with old and new friends that I've made over my time in academia to date. I was happy to share our @nihr-pru-bass.bsky.social research on populism and public health interventions.

Less inequality = fewer problems @profkepickett.bsky.social lays our her vision for a good society at #SSM2025 @socsocmed.bsky.social

It was great to present our review of interview studies looking at populism and how people receive public health interventions @socsocmed.bsky.social #SSM2025 yesterday! Looking forward to two more days of exciting talks 🤓

#SSM2025 Early Career Researcher day! Follow this thread to see updates (I'm doing the updates, so look forward to inevitable typos)

Super interesting thread from @amckinlay.bsky.social on how trust relates to public health, and how this links to our recent work looking at how populism affects the acceptability of public health interventions ⬇️

Thank you @jackmbirch.bsky.social for summarising your experiences at our recent #DigitalHealthDivide2025 workshop at @univie.ac.at!

After all the bollocks of claiming (wrongly) that the UK has two tier justice system, Farage is planning exactly that.

A really nice example on how to visually communicate the text contents of a paper on mobile phones

Our researcher @jackmbirch.bsky.social recently attended a workshop on the digital health divide at the University of Vienna @univie.ac.at. Read about how they considered how research practice can be improved when considering the digital health divide ⬇️ behscipru.nihr.ac.uk/3207-2/

Very happy to see a big paper from my PhD *OUT TODAY* We explored if there were inequalities in the attendance & effectiveness of behavioural weight management interventions in an individual participant data meta-analysis. See the thread for findings 👇 bmjpublichealth.bmj.com/content/3/2/...

Want to help improve mental health in academia? We are looking for bloggers for our November and December slots. You can submit a pitch here and learn more about the process: voicesofacademia.com/contact-2/

AI replicates, magnifies and perpetuates the biases already active in our health system and society www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Very happy to see a big paper from my PhD *OUT TODAY* We explored if there were inequalities in the attendance & effectiveness of behavioural weight management interventions in an individual participant data meta-analysis. See the thread for findings 👇 bmjpublichealth.bmj.com/content/3/2/...

Just back from a very interesting (and intellectually stimulating!) couple of days in Vienna. I attended a workshop on improving research practice to understand and address the digital health divide, hosted by Prof @lauramkoenig.bsky.social and colleagues at the University of Vienna.

As part of our OptICS project, we’re hosting an online stakeholder workshop on the 6th of October! If you work in integrated care, be it service delivery, management or commissioning, join us to explore how behavioural and social science can support the sector. 🎟️ Sign up here: shorturl.at/LtFZA

In the 2025 edition of @uclpophealthsci.bsky.social, our researchers @amckinlay.bsky.social and @jackmbirch.bsky.social discuss the enduring challenge of health inequalities, and link to our work discussing populism and the acceptability of public health interventions. Check it out below!

Earlier this month, the govt published the 10yr health plan. A 'moonshot to end the obesity epidemic' was launched. 🚀 BUT.. what do the public actually think about this? We did some work (pre 10 year plan announcement) with @moreincommonuk.bsky.social on this. More below 👇 🧵1/6

I've just written 'psychling' when I mean 'cycling'...what that says about my current energy levels, I'm not sure

great thread on genetic risk scoring

After missing @socsocmed.bsky.social, I can't wait for it this year! You have until 25th July 2025 to register during the early bird period.

A few thoughts about the '10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future' after a quick read (with my public health nerd hat on): ✔️Great to see reiterated commitment to the gradual tobacco ban ✔️Similarly good to see the junk food advertising ban to children mentioned (please no more delays🤞🏻)

A few thoughts about the '10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future' after a quick read (with my public health nerd hat on): ✔️Great to see reiterated commitment to the gradual tobacco ban ✔️Similarly good to see the junk food advertising ban to children mentioned (please no more delays🤞🏻)

🚨 After a brief hiatus, the UK Public Health Science conference returns in 2026 in collaboration with @socsocmed.bsky.social! 📅 Join us in Newcastle on 21 April, with dinner + ECR event on 20 April 📣 Call for abstracts coming soon 🏠 ukpublichealthscience.org 🤝 socsocmed.org.uk

Predatory journals are starting to take a more sinister and threatening tone..."a mild update"

It's hard to imagine that smoking inside cafes, restaurants and other inside spaces was ever OK. So happy 18th birthday to smokefree 🎉

Yeah, no. This isn't, as suggested in the article, the only intervention that would make a difference. There's a reason why those of us with an interest in obesity policy and research call for systems-wide changes...

I'm always a bit suspicious when things like this are announced on a Sunday... www.gov.uk/government/n...

Great to see this out. Always a pleasure to work with a good friend and collaborator in @sebwalsh.bsky.social

🤦🏻‍♂️

Our latest paper on populist-aligned beliefs and receipt of public health interventions is out now! We reviewed qualitative evidence to understand how populist-type views may impact on how people receive public health interventions. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

❗New ECR blog❗ We spoke with Caroline Kienast-von Einem, who recently passed her PhD viva @mrcepid.bsky.social. She discusses her interest in how place, mobility, and inequality interact to shape health, and adapting public health interventions to that complexity. socsocmed.org.uk/blog/ssm-ecr...

Setting the bar very high (or low) for this year's SSM annual conference dinner in Bradford! Not registered yet for our conference, 10-12 Sept 2025? Find details here: bit.ly/4iR9kBy @bihr.bsky.social

📣 New SSM blog with Peter Tennant out now ! Read about how he accidentally became an epidemiologist, and how an embarrassing mistake led him to being invited on BBC Breakfast 😱 📖: bit.ly/4kfd1CF Peter is a long-standing SSM Committee member, holding multiple roles in recent years - thanks Peter!

*** Registration now open *** Join us at our Society for Social Medicine & Population Health Annual Conference in Bradford, 10-12 Sept 2025 Details & to register: bit.ly/4iR9kBy 👀 More info on programme coming soon 👀 #SSM2025 @bihr.bsky.social @arc-yharc.bsky.social

Thrilled to have worked on this, led by the fab Kaitlin Conway-Moore @lshtm.bsky.social

Very happy to see this out! As well as the below, @amckinlay.bsky.social and I discuss how factors associated with populism - such as online misinformation - may exacerbate health inequalities. Read the blog here: blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp... Please do reach out to let us know what you think

Very happy to see this out! As well as the below, @amckinlay.bsky.social and I discuss how factors associated with populism - such as online misinformation - may exacerbate health inequalities. Read the blog here: blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp... Please do reach out to let us know what you think

Ministers to delay UK junk food advertising ban until next year www.ft.com/content/a4a5...

Too often, those of us in academia and policy overcomplicate ideas are obsessed with definitions, even between very similar and barely distinct concepts. This blog from The King's Fund really hit home with me. Let's just call a spade a spade - poverty is real. www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-...

The 'just world fallacy' pervades societal opinions of health. If someone is unhealthy or ill, people like to attribute blame. E.g. "They had a heart attack because they are fat". Is it just a way to feel morally superior? Or is it to avoid the harsh reality that most of health is cruelly random.

Are you interested in developing better ways to support people living with poor mental and physical health? Then this funded PhD at @newcastleuni.bsky.social could be for you! www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

Final day to apply to our NHS & Local Authority free/subsidised place scheme to attend 2025 Society for Social Medicine and Population Health Annual Conference in Bradford (10-12 Sept)! Won't take longer than a ☕ break to apply! Details: bit.ly/3FTdhb7 @nihrsphr.bsky.social @nihrarcs.bsky.social

PhD studentship in Public Health: Exploring co-occurring excess weight and severe mental illness in community settings Newcastle University Newcastle upon Tyne Closes 30/06 www.findaphd.com/phds/project...