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Anita Attala

Anita is a Lead Adult Weight Management Dietitian. She has experience in diabetes, bariatric surgery, weight management and forensics.   Her primary research interests are obesity and severe mental health and/or learning disability 

Award Title: Master Scholars

Start Date: Sept 2022

End Date: Sept 2024

Location of Research: North-East England and North Cumbria 

Project title: Exploring the views and opinions of Dietitians working in Specialist Adult Weight Management Services in the North-East of England on their skills, knowledge, and service provision for supporting people with obesity and a severe mental illness and/or learning disability.

Brief summary: The research is part of an MRes in Clinical Research.   

There is little training for Dietitians, and other health professionals working in physical healthcare settings, on how to support people with a severe mental illness or learning disability which may lead to poor service provision and stigmatising attitudes and behaviours from staff.   

This study will involve in-depth interviews with dietitians working in Tier 3 specialist adult weight management in the North-East of England and North Cumbria. It will explore Dietitians’ perceptions on how they support people with obesity and severe mental illness and/or learning disability in their services.  

Methods: Qualitative Research – using in-depth interviews and thematic analysis 

Benefits anticipated: Improving the access to Tier 3 specialist adult weight management services and improved support for people with obesity and severe mental illness and/or learning disability in the North-east of England and North Cumbria. Raising the awareness of the importance of providing education and training on how to support people with a severe mental illness and/or learning disability for Dietitians and other health professionals working in physical healthcare settings.