Understanding health behaviour
Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Unit
The unit aims to contribute research which advances understanding of behaviours with a major impact on health with a view to developing more effective preventive interventions.
Two of the main areas of research interest are in dietary choice and tobacco smoking which together have been estimated to account for up to 70% of all cancer deaths as well as having an important role in heart disease. Psychosocial issues in cancer screening participation form a third area.
The Health Behaviour Unit also:
~ runs a Smokers Clinic to research more effective smoking cessation treatments,
~ is piloting a family-based behavioural treatment programme for children with obesity in conjunction with Great Ormond Street Hospital and
~ has set up Weight Concern, a charity to address the physical and psychological problems of the overweight.
Submitted by: Lucy Cooke, 22 January 2007
