Lourdes Santos-Merx

Dr. Lourdes Santos-Merx is a Lecturer at the University of Central Birmingham, specializing in nutrition and psychology. She holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Birmingham and a degree in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Porto. As a registered nutritionist (Public Health) and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, she focuses on teaching and research related to eating behavior, school food provision, and weight management. Her role includes leading nutrition modules, supervising final-year research projects, and serving as a personal tutor and level 6 year tutor.

Her academic journey includes postdoctoral research at the University of Minho (Portugal) on eating disorders and portion size perception, alongside roles as a nutritional advisor for disordered eating cases and guest lecturer in clinical and public health nutrition. With 20 years of international higher education experience across the UK, Singapore, Spain, and Portugal, she emphasizes health promotion to address obesity and disordered eating.

Research interests include the psychological and social aspects of food choice, portion control, and body image perception. Key projects explore cross-cultural differences in eating habits, vitamin D intake in BAME populations, and the impact of genetics vs. lifestyle on chronic diseases. Her work often involves international collaborations and surveys analyzing eating behaviors across diverse demographics.

Dr. Santos-Merx has contributed over 40 peer-reviewed articles focusing on nutrition psychology, public health interventions, and eating disorder prevention. Notable awards include her HEA fellowship. She actively serves as an external examiner and peer reviewer for scientific journals, furthering her commitment to academic rigor and interdisciplinary collaboration.