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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. Using a range of methodologies, I work with academic, policy and practitioner colleagues to evaluate the impact and implementation of real-world interventions, services, and policies designed to improve the health and care of people in the NENC region and across the UK. I have a dietetics background, and my main area of interest is in obesity prevention and management. I also have an interest in the intersection of obesity and climate change; specifically, how actions to address systemic causes of climate change (e.g., transforming food systems) can have health co-benefits (improved dietary health) and potentially reduce health inequalities.


As an animal lover, I am also doing some research on the human companion animal bond looking at pet policies in homelessness accommodation services.

Research

Ongoing projects:

  • Heslehurst, N., and Fong, M. NENC Integrated Care Board (£69,861; 02/2025). Evaluation of South Tees NHS Trust implementation of the National Academy of Medicine gestational weight gain guidelines
  • Scarborough P., et. al. SHIFT Sustainable and Healthy interventions for Food Transitions (Wellcome Trust)
  • Fong, M., Bhatnagar, P., Spence, S, Batey, C., Somerville, R., Westcott, R. UKRI AFN Network+ (£49,587; 01/2025). Exploring the implementation, impact and acceptability of Planet Friendly menus in Newcastle primary schools
  • Fong, M. Society for Companion Animal Studies (£10,000; 09/2024). “My dog is my home”: Enhancing pet acceptance into homelessness accommodation services in the UK.
  • Madigan, CM., Daley, A.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.


Selected previous projects (final outputs published or in preparation):

  • 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 (extension project)
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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


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