Rachel Pechey
PhD
Sir Henry Dale Fellow
Behavioural scientist focused on healthier, sustainable and equitable food purchasing and consumption
I lead the Food Purchasing group, which is part of the Health Behaviours team. My research interests include exploring the effectiveness of different interventions that alter aspects of the physical micro-environment (also known as 'choice architecture' or nudges) to improve the healthiness and sustainability of diets. I am interested in understanding the mechanisms underlying the impact of such interventions, and their potential impact on health inequalities.
I am currently working on a Wellcome Trust & Royal Society Sir Henry Dale Fellowship, which aims to establish the extent to which evidence from interventions to support healthier diets can inform interventions to create urgently needed sustainable diets. Evidence from interventions targeting unhealthy diets could help quickly narrow down our choice of interventions to increase sustainable food selections. However, we need to ensure that the effectiveness of interventions does not change when targeting sustainability. We also want to identify interventions that work for those in all socioeconomic positions, so these do not increase inequalities.
Recent publications
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The impact of price promotions on confectionery and snacks on the energy content of shopping baskets: A randomised controlled trial in an experimental online supermarket.
Journal article
Luick M. et al, (2023), Appetite
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Effects of environmental impact and nutrition labelling on food purchasing: An experimental online supermarket study
Journal article
Potter C. et al, (2023), Appetite, 180
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Impact of increasing the relative availability of meat-free options on food selection: two natural field experiments and an online randomised trial
Journal article
Pechey R. et al, (2022), International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 19
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Is altering the availability of healthier vs. less-healthy options effective across socioeconomic groups? A mega-analysis
Journal article
Pechey R. et al, (2022), International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 19
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Testing the effectiveness of ecolabels to reduce the environmental impact of food purchases in worksite cafeterias: A randomised controlled trial
Journal article
Pechey R. et al, (2022), Appetite, 179