PhD Project: Co-design and evaluation of a Culturally Tailored Nutrition and Health (BALANCED) Program for Black African Women in the UK
Applications for this PhD project are now open. The deadline for applications is 6 April 2026.
Overview
Black African women in the UK experience disproportionately high rates of overweight and obesity (37%) (HSE, 2021), increasing risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (Ataey et al., 2020). These inequalities reflect intersecting cultural, socioeconomic, and systemic factors, including migration related dietary transitions and limited access to culturally appropriate services (Olaoye et al., 2025). Mainstream weight management interventions often lack relevance for this population.
A programme of formative research including a systematic review (Olaoye et al., 2025), cross sectional survey on dietary patterns, qualitative interviews (Olaoye et al., 2025), and stakeholder consultation informed the development of the Black African Lifestyle and Nutrition Change for Empowerment and Development (BALANCED) programme (Olaoye et al., 2026) to address overweight and obesity in Black African women in the UK.
While theoretically robust and empirically grounded, the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of BALANCED in real world settings remain to be evaluated, providing the rationale for this PhD. The programme will continue to be refined and developed iteratively in collaboration with participants as part of an in-depth programme of research, enhancing understanding of culturally embedded nutrition and lifestyle behaviours.
Project Contact:
Dr Itse Olaoye
Email: itse.olaoye@hsu.ac.uk
Details
To further refine, co-design and evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of the BALANCED program.
Objectives:
- Intervention refinement: Explore needs and refine the BALANCED program through co-design
- Feasibility and Acceptability: Assessing the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention by measuring recruitment, retention, adherence, and participant satisfaction.
- Physical Health Outcomes: Evaluating the impact of the program on physical health metrics via a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT)
- Behavioural Changes: Monitoring changes in dietary habits and physical activity levels to promote healthier lifestyles within this demographic via a pilot RCT.
The programme of research will take place within communities across the UK. Following the Medical Research Council Framework, this project will use an iterative, multi-phase approach and in collaboration with participants.
Key steps include conducting qualitative interviews with participants, developing/refining a theoretical framework and logic model and evaluating the intervention through an RCT.
Funding 
HSU is offering up to three fee waivers for UK home applicants starting in October 2026. All eligible UK home applicants will automatically be considered for fee waiver support, which is awarded competitively based on the excellence of the candidate.
International applicants are unfortunately not eligible for fee waivers.
All applicants are expected to have financial plans in place to cover their studies and should not rely on a fee waiver.
Self-funded students are also welcome to apply for this project. Self-funded students can be UK home students or international students.
Availability
Available to both UK and International students.
Potential Supervisors
Dr Itse Olaoye
Dr Adetola Adekunle
Dr Aniebiet Ekong
References
Ataey, A., Jafarvand, E., Adham, D. and Moradi-Asl, E., 2020. The relationship between obesity, overweight, and the human development index in world health organization eastern mediterranean region countries. Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, 53(2), p.98.
HSE. (2022). Health Survey for England, 2021 part 1 – NHS England Digital. https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/health-survey-forengland/20211
Olaoye, I., Myrissa, K., Kelaiditi, E., Tsofliou, F. and Brown, N., 2025. Effectiveness of client-centred counselling on weight management among Black African women with overweight and obesity in high-income countries: a systematic review. Psychology & Health, pp.1-32.
Olaoye, I., Myrissa, K., Tsofliou, F., Kelaiditi, E. and Brown, N., 2025. Factors Shaping Dietary Choices of Black African Immigrant Women with Overweight and Obesity from West Africa Living in the UK. Behavioral Medicine, pp.1-14.
Olaoye, I., Brown, N., Tsofliou, F., Kelaiditi, E. and Myrissa, K., 2026. Developing a theory and evidence-based intervention for black African women using the COM-B model and behaviour change wheel: BALANCED programme. Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, 14(1), p.2616929.
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