Gemma Bridge
Collaborating to improve health, wellbeing and sustainability for all
Research
Transdisciplinary research that covers topics of public health, oral health and sustainability.
Projects
Public health, physical activity, communication and sustainability
See below for a summary of recent research projects that I have worked on.
XR Sustainability Stories
Post Doctoral Research Assistant at York St John University. Supporting the development of guidance about sustainability communication for the creative sector.
Outputs:
Presentation at Beyond Conference, Cardiff - 2022
FVTG - Enabling Youth Engagement for Transport Schemes
Co-lead of the project. We are working to produce guidance for councils and organisations on engaging young people in consultations.
Outputs:
In progress
Running Mayor of West Yorkshire - #runsome
Appointed in 2021. I work with businesses in the region to make it easier for more people to #runsome everyday journeys, errands and commutes.
Ouputs:
Paper - Exploring perceptions of e-micromobility amongst university staff and students in Leeds (2021) DOI: 10.16997/ats.1164
FLEXIS
Post Doctoral Research Assistant at the University of Leeds. Critically analyse such tools used within the palm oil supply chain and explore their potential to enhance traceability and transparency.
Outputs:
Presentation at ICON-IR, UNPAR, Indonesia - 2022
Paper in progress
Supporting youth in Leeds with overweight and obesity
Consultant researcher with Leeds Beckett University and Leeds City Council. Led the qualitative data collection phase to capture insights about weight management support needed for young people in Leeds.
Outputs:
Insight report for Leeds City Council
UBI lab food
Founding member of the UBI lab food group. Regular meetings to discuss the potential for a UBI to support people to access adequate food for health and wellbeing.
Outputs:
Leeds Food Hubs
Post Doctoral Research Assistant. Exploring the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for food hubs in Leeds. Aiming to develop an evaluation tool.
Outputs:
Insight presentation for Leeds City Council
Fresh Street
Research Fellow at Queen Mary University of London. Explored the acceptability and feasibility of a place-based approach to increasing access to fruit and vegetables in areas of high deprivation and low access to fruit and vegetables. (https://freshstreet.uk/)
Outputs:
Internal report
WHO Health Systems for Health Security
Research Assistant at the University of Leeds. Worked with an international team to conduct a rapid scoping review of the relationship between health systems and health security. The review was later used to develop a framework for the WHO.
Outputs:
Framework for the WHO
Paper - (2022) The role of health systems for health security: a scoping review revealing the need for improved conceptual and practical linkages. Global Health
STFC Coping during COVID-19
Co-investigator. Through online surveys and focus groups, we explored factors that affected the ability of people to cope with the stresses associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, focussing on food, physical activity and social connections.
Outputs:
Awarded funding through the STFC sandpit (2020, £8k)
Paper in progress
Bramley Healthy Food Environment
Project lead. Worked in collaboration with Leeds Cit Council to explore the food environment in Bramley, Leeds - identifying factors that may lead to higher levels of obesity and overweight. Provided policy recommendations and local actions.
Outputs:
Awarded funding through BARCA Leeds and Leeds City Council (2019, £5k)
Leeds City Council insight report
WFPHA Oral Health Working Group
Research consultant. Work with international dental and medical professionals and researchers to explore, examine and advocate on topics related to oral and general health. Focus on integration, special care, inequalities and sugar.
Outputs:
Several papers and policy briefs (see list below)
Supervised over 25 international interns
Public relations and communications
Research assistant. Throughout my PhD and in the years following, I have collaborated on communication projects on topics that include: corporate social responsibility, climate action, gender in the media, and competencies.
Outputs:
Several papers and policy briefs (see list below)
SSB taxes
My PhD explored the implementation of the UK SDIL Alongside my PhD studies, I explored factors influencing the implementation of SSB taxes globally. I have also discussed barriers to implementation such as part of work on the commercial determinants of health.
Outputs:
Several papers and policy briefs (see list below)
Academic publications
2022
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Tench, R. and Bridge, G. (2022) The good, the bad and the ugly Learning lessons from the UK's COVID-19 communication. Strategic Communication in a Global Crisis. (Book chapter) https://doi.10.4324/9781003184669-15
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Bridge, G. (2022) Risk of Food Insecurity and Cardiometabolic Health—What Can Be Done? The Journal of Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxac109
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Bridge, G., Groisman, S. & Bedi, R (2022). Sugar-sweetened beverage taxes in Brazil: past, present, and future. J Public Health Pol. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41271-022-00336-y
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Day, R.E., Bridge, G., Austin, K. et al. (2022) Parents’ awareness and perceptions of the Change4Life 100 cal snack campaign, and perceived impact on snack consumption by children under 11 years. BMC Public Health 22, 1012. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-12789-7
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Brown, G.W., Bridge, G., Martini, J. et al. (2022) The role of health systems for health security: a scoping review revealing the need for improved conceptual and practical linkages. Global Health 18, 51. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-022-00840-6
2021
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Bridge, G., Fawkes, J., and Tench, R. Between a rock and a hard place: publishing issues in public relations and communication management. Journal of Communication Management. doi/10.1108/JCOM-11-2020-0152
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Topic, M., Bridge, G., and Tench, R. (2021). Mirroring the zeitgeist: an analysis of CSR policies in the UK's food, soft drink and packaging industries. Journal of Global Responsibility. https://doi.org/10.1108/JGR-04-2020-0047
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Bridge, G (2021). Exploring perceptions of E-micromobilities amongst staff and students in Yorkshire. Active Travel Studies. 10.16997/ats.1164
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Bridge, G (2021). Consider the Whole Picture When Discussing Infant Formula and Breast Milk. Journal of Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxab132
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Bridge, G. Lomazzi, M., Adi Santos, C., and Bedi, R. (2021). Analysis of the labelling of a sample of commercial foods for infants and young children in 13 countries. Journal of Public Health Policy. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41271-021-00290-1
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Armstrong, B., Reynolds, C., Bridge, G., Oakden, L., Wang, C., Panzone. L., Schmidt, X., Kause. A., Ffoulkes, C., Krawczyk, C., Miller, G., and Serjeant, S. (2021). How Does Citizen Science Compare to Online Survey Panels? A Comparison of Food Knowledge and Perceptions Between the Zooniverse, Prolific and Qualtrics UK Panels. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 4. DOI=10.3389/fsufs.2020.575021
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Bridge, G., Armstrong, B., Reynolds, C., Wang, C., Schmidt, X., Kause, A., Ffoulkes, C., Krawczyk, C., Miller, G., Serjeant, S. and Oakden, L. (2021). Engaging citizens in sustainability research: comparing survey recruitment and responses between Facebook, Twitter and qualtrics. British Food Journal. https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-06-2020-0498
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Nurelhuda N., Lee H., Bridge G. (2021) Oral Health in the Arab World: The Silent Epidemic of Dental Caries. In: Laher I. (eds) Handbook of Healthcare in the Arab World. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74365-3_87-1
2020
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Topic, M., Bridge, G., and Tench R. (2020) Mirroring the Zeitgeist: An Analysis of CSR Policies in the UK’s Food, Soft Drink and Packaging Industries. Journal of Global Responsibility
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Bridge, G., Flint, S., and Tench, R. (2020) An exploration of the portrayal of the UK soft drinks industry levy in UK national newspapers. Public Health Nutrition. DOI: 10.1017/S1368980020000208
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Armstrong, B., Bridge, G. Oakden, L., et al. (2020) Piloting citizen science methods to measure perceptions of carbon footprint and energy content of food. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2020.00120
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Bridge, G. Lomazzi, M. and Bedi, R. (2020) Revenue allocation from SSB taxes: making the case for oral health promotion. International Dental Journal. DOI: 10.1111/idj.12543
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Bridge, G. Lomazzi, M. and Bedi, R (2020) Implementation of a sugar-sweetened beverage tax in low-and middle-income countries: Recommendations for policymakers. Journal of Public Health Policy. DOI: 10.1057/s41271-019-00196-z
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Bridge, G. Lomazzi, M. and Bedi, R. (2020) A cross-country exploratory study to investigate the labelling, energy, carbohydrate and sugar content of formula milk products marketed for infants. British Dental Journal. DOI: 10.1038/s41415-020-1252-0
2019
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Bridge, G. Willis, T. Evans, C. Roberts, K. and Rudolf, M. (2019) The impact of HENRY on parenting and family lifestyle: Exploratory analysis of the mechanisms for change. Child: Care, Health and Development DOI: 10.1111/cch.12694
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Bridge, G. Lomazzi, M. Bedi, R. (2019) A call to action: advocating for the integration of oral health promotion and public health via sugar-sweetened beverage taxation. British Dental Journal. DOI: 10.1038/s41415-019-0841-2
Selection of outputs
Reducing sugar consumption through policy change
