Our research
Dr Florence Sheen specialises in communicating with children and young people about eating a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy body weight.
She is an independent researcher at Loughborough University, based in the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences.
She has a passion for understanding the psychology of eating behaviour, and how we can support people to lead healthier lives by creating effective interventions for all ages.
She is currently investigating how we can better communicate with adolescents about eating and body weight to support and empower individuals.
Why adolescents?
Adolescence (10-19 years) is a key developmental period with huge potential for change and opportunity for improving and promoting life-long health. However, it is also a time when certain well-being issues can develop.
Messages that adolescents receive from various sources in their external environment (e.g., social media) about eating and body weight may contribute to unintended mental and physical health outcomes.
Florence is investigating how best to talk with adolescents about eating and body weight to be most supportive of individual changes, health, and well-being during this time and into adulthood. Importantly, this research is being conducted with adolescents, for adolescents.
With adolescents, for adolescents
To make sure that this research aligns with the lived experiences of adolescents, this research is being conducted with adolescents, for adolescents.
Florence is connecting with her community in Leicestershire to formulate her research projects, which includes holding focus groups in the community to talk about eating and body weight messaging and wellbeing.
Current research
Florence is currently conducting an interview study with adolescents in Loughborough to explore what messages 10-15-year-olds receive about eating and body weight and how they interpret these messages.
She is also conducting a project exploring how adolescents use online resources for information about health and wellbeing, including their interactions with AI.