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Staff Profile

Dr Mackenzie Fong

NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Research Fellow

  • Address: Population Health Sciences Institute
    Faculty of Medical Sciences
    Newcastle University
    M1.151 William Leech Building, Framlington Place
    Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH
Background

Education

2008-2011: Bachelor of Science (Nutrition and Dietetics) (Honours 1), University of Sydney 

2015-2019: Doctor of Philosophy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney 


Research interests

I am a research fellow at the NIHR's Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) North East and North Cumbria in the Prevention, Early Intervention and Behaviour Change theme. I work with academic and practitioner colleagues to evaluate real-world interventions, services, and policies designed to improve the health and care of people in the region. While I work on projects that target many health behaviours, my special interest is in obesity prevention and management, particularly among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. I have an interest in the intersection of obesity (and diet and physical activity behaviours) and climate change policy. For instance, how Net Zero actions that address systemic causes of climate change (e.g., food systems) can have health co-benefits (improved dietary health and non-communicable disease risk).

Research

Ongoing projects:

  • Madigan, CM., Daley, J., Fong, M., Rothwell, C., McSweeney, L., Adamson, A, Graham, H. NIHR Policy Research Programme (£399,999; March 2024). A qualitative study of people’s experiences and needs after re-gaining weight and how current services address weight regain.
  • Filipe, L., Keeble, M,. Fong., M. NIHR ARC National Priorities Health and Care Inequalities and Prevention with Behavioural Risk Factors - Researcher network funding call (£9794; 02/22). Factors perceived to influence the purchase of takeaway food amongst adults in the UK: a multimethod study.
  • Fong, M., Aquino, MJR., Talbot, C. NIHR ARC Methodology internship fund (£6472; 08/2022-12/2022). An exploration of weight management information, experiences and perceptions using data from online forums and social media. 
  • Fong, M., Adamson, A., Mathews, C., van Dijk, M., Blackshaw, J., Lloyd, S., Aveyard, P., Jebb, S., Barber, J. North of England Commissioning Support (NECS) (£79,548; 01/2022). A 'deep dive' exploration of Tier 2 Local Authority weight management services from stakeholder and service user perspectives
  • Kaner, E. et al. NIHR ARC National Priority in Prevention with Behavioural Risk Factors (£369,628.87; 09/2021). Supporting the NHS Long Term Plan: An evaluation of the implementation and impact of NHS-funded tobacco dependence services
  • Aveyard, P. et al. NIHR ARC National Priority in Prevention with Behavioural Risk Factors (09/2021; £398,557). Evaluation of the national rollout of the NHS Enhanced Service Incentive for weight management in primary care 



Previous projects:

  • Heslehurst, A., Fong, M., Thomson, K., Nguyen, G., Cullen, E., Moffatt, M., Aquino, MJR. Public Health Wales (£35,109; 12/22). Effectiveness and implementation of non-specialist interventions for weight management up to 5 years following pregnancy: a systematic review
  • Kudrna, L. et al. NIHR ARC National Priority in Prevention with Behavioural Risk Factors (09/2021; £299,987). A mixed-methods evaluation of cross-regional workplace health initiatives including a cluster randomised controlled trial (cRCT) of a behaviour change intervention
  • Fong, M., Prentis, J., Kaner, E., Rowland, M., Bhattarai, N., McCone, E., Nesbitt, C., Snowden, C., Nandhra, S., Court, P., Bell, O. NIHR ARC NENC Responsive Funding (01/2021; £32,099). Evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of an exercise and behaviour change intervention in socioeconomically deprived patients with peripheral arterial disease (the TEXT-PAD study)
  • Fong, M., Scott, S., Visram, S. Public Health England (02/2021; £5,000). A mixed-methods study exploring enhanced takeaway services and eating out-of-home foods during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Aquino, MRJ. and Fong, M. UKRI QQR Strategic Priorities Fund via Newcastle University (01/2021; £14,256). Health visiting in NENC during COVID-19
  • Fong, M. and Aquino, MRJ. UKRI QR Strategic Priorities Fund via Newcastle University (01/2021; £9,730). Obesity prevention in the NENC: connecting with the third sector




Teaching

I supervise research projects for:

  • Undergraduate students studying Food and Human Nutrition, Nutrition with Food Marketing, Sport and Exercise Science
  • Postgraduate students studying Masters of Public Health
  • PhD candidates conducting work in the areas of nutrition, public health and/or obesity
Publications