Fully-funded PhD: Musculoskeletal and health outcomes from a randomised controlled trial of a behavioural change intervention for weight reduction.

We are looking for a highly motivated doctoral student to join our research team based in central Manchester (UK) to contribute to exciting new studies investigating the musculoskeletal outcomes of a behavioural change intervention for weight loss in obese adults.

What you’ll do:

• This is one of two related PhD projects on behavioural change and weight loss. The successful doctoral candidate will lead a randomised controlled trial, including participant recruitment and coordination of laboratory assessments.
• This project will focus on the musculoskeletal and energy metabolism research outcomes, using these to produce original research outputs for publication in medical journals.
• We’ll help you master cutting-edge laboratory assessments of health and imaging using 3 Tesla MRI scanning to investigate skeletal muscle and energy metabolism biomarkers.
• You’ll collaborate with clinical experts and patient groups, attend conferences and meet leading research experts as you develop your specialist knowledge and skills.

If you’re up for the challenge and want to join our team, apply now!

Project aims and objectives

This project investigates the musculoskeletal outcomes of a behavioural change intervention for weight loss. The aim of the randomised controlled trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of an audio/visual online coaching programme that leverages digital health technologies as part of a novel intervention that can be easily accessed by a wide audience. This will be compared with access to community dietetic assessment and dietary support. 

The primary outcome is weight change, and secondary outcomes are eating self-efficacy, exercise confidence, quality of life and indicators of health status. Sub-studies will additionally determine how the intervention affects brain blood flow and metabolism in regions associated with appetite control, reward processing and self-regulation (the focus of the related project), as well as changes to skeletal muscle size, strength, fat infiltration and energy metabolism (the focus of this project).