My research interests are focused on eating disorders, restrictive eating and dieting in children, adolescents and adults. I lead the Eating Disorders Research Group in the Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/pals/research/clinical-educational-and-health-psychology/research-groups/eating-disorders-research-group. I collaborate with a range of colleagues at UCL, nationally and internationally.

1. I conduct research into the neuropsychology of perseverative behaviour/thinking in anorexia nervosa and in fasting states such as 5:2 dieters. This research aims to discover what impact food restriction may have on neurocognitive processing.

2. I have an interest in improving outcomes for eating disorders. I collaborate on treatment trials into psychological therapies for eating disorders to help develop better treatments. I contribute to several national and international committees which aim to review treatment research and advise on best practice (Core Member of the 2017 NICE Guideline Development Group for Eating Disorders, Member of the Global Clinical Practice Network for the revision of the Mental and Behavioural Disorders chapter of ICD-11 and Co-chair of AED Task Force for the Development of Psychological Care Guidelines (2018-19)

3. I have an ongoing interest in motivation and the pros and cons of eating disorders as described by service users. We are currently conducting a study to examine whether the pros and cons of anorexia nervosa help to predict outcome from psychological therapy.

4. I have recently begun collaborating on research into the links between anorexia nervosa and autism. Individuals with anorexia nervosa have an increased risk of having comorbid diagnosis of autism. Our research aims to understand more about how anorexia nervosa presents in women with autism and how treatment may be adapted.