Kath Roberts

Kath Roberts is a Senior Lecturer of Public Health Nutrition at the University of York's Hull York Medical School, where she serves as a Registered Nutritionist and epidemiologist with 18 years of UK government public health intelligence experience focused on diet, obesity, evaluation methods, inequalities, and social determinants of health.

Her academic qualifications include:

• PhD in Nutritional Epidemiology/Public Health Nutrition from SCHARR, University of Sheffield (2011-2017)
• MSc in Nutrition, Physical Activity and Public Health from University of Bristol (2008-2010)
• BSc (joint honours) in Politics and Sociology from University of Bristol (1997-2000)

Her research centers on evaluating public health interventions, child health, food insecurity, lifecourse dietary patterns, and social determinants' impact on diet quality and obesity. She specializes in analyzing routinely collected health data to inform policy and practice through cross-sector collaboration in health and social care systems. Her work bridges epidemiological methods with practical public health applications.

Recent publications demonstrate strong thematic focus on obesity policy implications and pandemic health intersections, with notable contributions on defining obesity as a disease and its relationship with COVID-19. Her interdisciplinary approach spans public health nutrition, evolutionary biology, and health policy analysis, reflecting collaborative work across medical, governmental, and community contexts.

Roberts provides supervisory support for MPH dissertations and teaches Phase I of the MBBS Programme. Her leadership roles include Partnerships Director for the BaBi network, operational lead for Communications at the Association for the Study of Obesity, and vice-chair of the Faculty of Public Health Special Interest Group on Food, indicating significant engagement in research dissemination and professional networks.

She operates within the Public Health and Society research group at York, leveraging her government experience to connect academic research with real-world public health challenges through multiple professional networks and committee leadership positions.