We use cookies on this website to improve the experience we provide. By continuing to use our site you agree to this, or visit our cookie policy to manage your settings.
Saved courses
Search website

Mindful Eating Behaviour in Action: Cross-Cultural Insights into Interventions and Psychometrics for Obesity and Diabetes Care

Doctoral Training Grant Funding Information

This funding model includes a 36 month fully funded PhD Studentship, set in-line with the Research Council values. For 2025/6, this will be £20,780 per year. The tax-free stipend will be paid monthly. This PhD Studentship also includes a Full-Time Home Fee Scholarship for up to 3 years. The funding is subject to your continued registration on the research degree, making satisfactory progression within your PhD, as well as attendance on and successful completion of the Postgraduate Certificate in Research Practice. 

All applicants will receive the same stipend irrespective of fee status.

Application Closing Date:
Midday (UK Time) on Wednesday 16th April 2025 for a start date of the 1st September 2025.

How to Apply

To apply, please follow the below steps:

  1. Complete the BCU Online Application Form here: Social Sciences PhDs.
  2. Complete the Doctoral Studentship Proposal Form in full, ensuring that you quote the project ID. You will be required to upload your proposal in place of a personal statement on the BCU online application form.
  3. Upload two references to your online application form (at least one of which must be an academic reference).
  4. Upload your qualification(s) for entry onto the research degree programme. This will be Bachelor/Master’s certificate(s) and transcript(s).
  5. International applicants must also provide a valid English language qualification. Please see the list of English language qualifications accepted here. Please check the individual research degree course page for the required scores.

Frequently Asked Questions

To help support you to complete your application, please consult the frequently asked questions below:

If your question is not answered above and you need any further information, please use the contact details below: 

- For enquiries about the project content, please contact: Michael.mantzios@bcu.ac.uk 

- For enquiries about the application procedure, please contact: research.admissions@bcu.ac.uk

Project Title: Mindful Eating Behaviour in Action: Cross-Cultural Insights into Interventions and Psychometrics for Obesity and Diabetes Care

Project lead: Prof Dr Michael Mantzios 

Project ID: 44071542 

Project description:

This research aims to help people with obesity or diabetes manage their weight by exploring how mindful eating can support healthier habits. Mindful eating means paying closer attention to how we eat, helping people make better food choices and feel more in control of their eating.  

In the first phase, the research will study eating habits in different clinical groups of people to improve existing tools that measure mindful eating. It will also look at other factors like emotional eating, external triggers for eating, and healthy diets such as Mediterranean, vegetarian, and vegan. This will give a clearer picture of how mindful eating helps, predicts and supports weight management and make these tools relevant and applicable to healthcare professionals.  

In the second phase, the research will test mindful eating interventions with people who are trying to manage their weight with or without a diabetes diagnosis. The studies will assess how well these programmes improve physical and mental health and will also include interviews to hear directly from participants about their experiences. 

To ensure these programmes work for everyone, the research will include people from different backgrounds and cultures, both in the UK and internationally. By working with researchers in other countries, the study will also compare results and find ways to help even more people. 

The findings will help create practical and effective mindful eating strategies that can be used in healthcare settings to support better health and well-being, and support the generation of real-world impact. 

Anticipated findings and contribution to knowledge:

Phase A will contribute foundational knowledge by exploring the relationship between mindful eating behaviours and factors like emotional eating, external eating, and dietary preferences across diverse populations. The anticipated research findings are expected to validate and expand the utility of mindful eating behaviour scales, making them suitable for clinical application in obesity and diabetes care in the UK and internationally.  

These insights will inform interventions tailored to weight management and dietary health.  

Phase B will assess the efficacy of mindful eating interventions in managing obesity and diabetes through randomised controlled trials. By incorporating both quantitative and qualitative approaches, the research will provide a comprehensive understanding of the interventions' impact on psychological and physiological health outcomes while emphasising inclusivity through diverse participant representation and data.  

Contribution to new knowledge:  

  • Expand the validation of mindful eating scales for clinical use globally. 
  • Offer culturally and demographically inclusive data on both eating behaviours and intervention efficacy. 
  • Inform evidence-based, scalable mindful eating interventions with the potential to improve health outcomes in obesity and diabetes care internationally.  

Through its cross-country scope, the study will foster international collaboration and generate impactful, globally relevant data for mindful eating practices. 

Person Specification:

Essential Criteria: 

  • A bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline such as psychology, nutrition, dietetics, or a related field. 
  • A passion for the principles constituting mindful eating.  
  • A desire to improve the lives of individuals with obesity and diabetes.  
  • Competence in data analysis and software (e.g., SPSS, NVivo).  
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. 
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team. 
  • Strong organisational and time-management skills.  
  • Ethical and Cultural awareness and sensitivity.  

Desirable Criteria: 

  • A master’s degree in a related field.   
  • Experience in patient and public involvement (PPI). 

International applicants must also provide a valid English language qualification, such as International English Language Test System (IELTS) or equivalent with an overall score of 6.5 with no band below 6.0.