Alisha Suhag

BA, BSc, MSc

Population Health, School of Medicine and Population Health

PhD student

Profile

I am a mixed-methods behavioural scientist with a background in health psychology, economics and epidemiology. My current research investigates the impact of complex health-behaviour patterns on chronic disease in older adults. I am interested in using big data and longitudinal studies to investigate the impact of commercial determinants on dietary behaviour, consumer choice, and health.

I am currently pursuing my PhD at the Healthy Lifespan Institute at the University of Sheffield, where I use cluster-analytic techniques to segment populations into definable risk groups based on their health-behaviour patterns over time. This approach challenges traditional approaches that focus on individual behaviours, by allowing us to examine complex behavioural patterns and their health impact. These findings can be used to develop targeted interventions for specific subpopulations at high risk for chronic diseases.

Before joining the Healthy Lifespan Institute, I conducted behavioural and epidemiological research on food choices, diet, and health. For instance, I examined the effects of "nudge-like" changes on food intake at the University of Bristol Nutrition and Behaviour Unit and investigated how parental perceptions of childhood obesity in China influence subsequent treatments. I also conducted behavioural analysis for the Antibiotic Research in Care Homes (ARCH) to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use in care homes.

Qualifications

MSc Behaviour Change, UCL

BSc Experimental Psychology, University of Bristol

BA Economics, University of Delhi

Research interests

PhD Title: How do multiple health behaviours cluster and impact multimorbidity in older adults?

Other research interests:

  • Food-purchasing behaviours in obesogenic retail environments
  • Using "big data" to understand health behaviour patterns 
  • Commercial determinants of diet and their health impact 
Publications

Journal articles

Posters

  • Suhag A, Ahlsson F, José D, Cutfield WS, Gibbins JD & Lundgren M (2019) Increased risk of visual and hearing impairments in young adult males born preterm. DOHaD (Developmental Origins of Health and Disease), Melbourne, Australia. RIS download Bibtex download
Research group

Supervisors

Professor John Holmes

Professor Thomas Webb

Dr Robyn Burton (external)