Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Leigh Gibson read Psychology and Physiology at the University of London, and then completed a PhD and post-doctoral fellowship at the School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, studying mechanisms by which nutrients in food influence food choice and appetite. In 1989, Leigh joined the Institute of Neurology in London, to work on the neurochemistry of appetite, anxiety and stress. In 1993, he joined the Health Behaviour Unit at the Institute of Psychiatry, and then moved with the HBU to the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, UCL, in 1996, where, as Senior Research Fellow, he studied food choice, appetite, and their interactions with stress and health. In 2004, Leigh joined the School of Human and Life Sciences, University of Roehampton.
Leigh is currently a Reader in Biopsychology, and Director of the Clinical and Health Psychology Research Centre within the recently formed Department of Psychology
Qualifications
BSc, PhD, C Psychol, R Nutr, AFBPsS, FHEA
Research interests
Leigh Gibson's current research is concerned with influences on appetite and food choice, and their interaction with stress, health, and cognitive and emotional well-being. The work is aimed at understanding processes controlling people's habitual diet, attempts at dietary change, weight control and disordered eating. His work derives mainly from psychological and physiological mechanisms underlying dietary habit formation, especially the role of learning, but also including influences of nutrition and stress on brain/behaviour and cardiovascular adaptations protecting health.
For a detailed profile of Leigh's research publications, please visit this site: http://tinyurl.com/el-gibson-pubs
Professional affiliations
British Psychological Society; British Neuroscience Association; Nutrition Society; Association for the Study of Obesity; Association for Nutrition; Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior
Consultancy work
Dr Leigh Gibson has acted as an expert consultant for the food and drink industry, including Unilever, the Natural Hydration Council and the International Life Sciences Institute.
A recent collaboration with Abbott Nutrition and Nyxeon led to Dr Gibson's participation in a training film on "The Power of Taste", which has been endorsed by the British Dietetic Association for continous professional development. More details and a link to the film are available here:
https://www.abbottnutrition.co.uk/support-and-tools/power-of-taste-elearning/
Teaching
Leigh contributes lectures to a broad range of modules across the Departments of Psychology and Life Sciences, including those for Nutrition, Health and Sports Science undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, as well as in Psychology. He has convened several psychological modules including "Experiencing Psychological Research", "Mind, Body and Brain" and an MSc module, "Experimental Design, Data Collection and Analysis". Leigh is also a visiting lecturer at King's College London and Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia.
Links
Network
Projects
- 1 Active
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Effects of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on reducing anxiety and/or depression in adults; A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
Kelaiditis, C., Gibson, E. L. & Dyall, S. C., 29 Mar 2023, (Accepted/In press) In: Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and essential fatty acids.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Process evaluation of a kindergarten-based intervention for obesity prevention in early childhood: the Toybox study Malaysia
Cheah, W. L., Poh, B. K., Abd, T. R., Lee, J. A. C., Koh, D., Reeves, S., Essau, C. A., Summerbell, C. D., Hafizah, Y. N., Anchang, G. N. J. & Gibson, E. L., 6 Jun 2023, In: BMC PUBLIC HEALTH. 23, 1082, 1082.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Physics and physiology of obesity: higher rate of energy input than output. Comment on “The carbohydrate–insulin model: a physiological perspective on the obesity pandemic”
Booth, D. A. & Gibson, E. L., 9 Feb 2022, In: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 115, 2, p. 590-591Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › peer-review
Open Access -
Process evaluation of a kindergarten-based, family involved intervention to prevent obesity in early childhood: The Toybox Study Malaysia
Cheah, WL., Poh, BK., Talib, RA., Julia, ACL., Denise, CLK., Reeves, S., Essau, C., Summerbell, C., Yatiman, NH., Anchang, GNJ. & Gibson, E. L., Jun 2022Research output: Other contribution › peer-review
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Teachers’ and Parents’ Perspectives on the Feasibility of a Preschool-Based Behavioral Intervention to Prevent Obesity: An Embedded Qualitative Study within ToyBox Study Malaysia
Lee, J. A. C., Cheah, W. L., Anchang, G. N. J., Noor Hafizah, Y., Abim, M., Ruzita, A. T., Koh, D., Reeves, S., Summerbell, C., Essau, C. A., Poh, B. K. & Gibson, E. L., 1 Jan 2022, In: Early Childhood Education Journal. p. 149 164 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access
Activities
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Dietary supplements, 'functional' and 'super' foods: Science, regulations and roles in the diet
Leigh Gibson (Organiser)
29 Nov 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an academic event › Participation in academic conference
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Intermittent fasting: Does the evidence support the hype?
Leigh Gibson (Organiser)
22 Feb 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an academic event › Participation in academic conference
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Preconception nutrition: breaking the cycle of deprivation
Leigh Gibson (Organiser)
8 Jun 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an academic event › Participation in academic conference
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Royal Society of Medicine (External organisation)
Leigh Gibson (Chair)
1 Oct 2021 → 30 Sep 2025Activity: Membership › Membership of council
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Positive Impact of a Multi-Component Kindergarten-Based Health Behaviour intervention on Overweight and Obesity in 3-6 Year-Old Children: Toybox Study Malaysia
Leigh Gibson (Speaker)
11 Nov 2021 → 12 Nov 2021Activity: Talk or presentation for an academic audience › Oral presentation for an academic audience
File
Press/Media
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Why might antidepressants dampen our emotions?
26/01/23
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media