Centre staff
Debra Gibson
Research assistant
Phone 0114 225 5690
E-mail d.j.gibson@shu.ac.uk
Research interests/current work
Debra's current roles include
- the design, delivery and analysis of a community based physical activity programme; BeActive
- contribution to the evaluation of the city wide project; Sheffield Lets Change4Life
BeActive aims to reduce weight in individuals with a BMI of 25 or over, via improvement of lifestyle. Responsibilities include communication with stakeholders and service providers, promotion and marketing, delivery of health checks to members of the public and continued efforts to revise and update the programme as it develops.
Sheffield Lets Change4Life is a government and NHS Sheffield managed programme, which is funding the development of several projects in different community environments, throughout Sheffield. Responsibilities include liaisons with project leads, obtaining up to date information on the progression of the projects, designing and conducting smaller studies within projects and evaluation, interpretation and presentation of data.
Previous research has included
- work with schools in promoting healthy eating and increasing physical activity via an interactive educational resource (Healthy Heroes)
- working with vulnerable groups (criminal rehabilitation groups and young mums) by designing and delivering cook and eat sessions that aid cooking skills and increase nutritional knowledge
- design and delivery of a 12 week weight management course for lymphoedema patients, aiming to improve mobility and lifestyle. Including cook and eat sessions and chair based exercises
Background
Debra's previous background was involvement with an NHS 'Be Well' service, aiding in the promotion of healthy lifestyles in deprived areas of Lancaster.
Prior to this Debra completed her Masters qualification in Public Health Nutrition (MSc) (2008-2009) at the University of Chester. This included work on the Healthy Heroes project in schools across the Lancashire area.
Debra completed her first degree, a BSc in Biomedical Sciences, from 2004 to 2008 at the University of Manchester.
