Clare Llewellyn

Clare Llewellyn is Professor of Psychology and Epidemiology in the Department of Behavioural Science and Health at University College London (UCL), where she co-leads UCL-REACH (Research into Eating, Activity and Health). Her research focuses on understanding the causes of obesity and eating disorders, and their intersection; developing behavioural approaches to prevention; and generating evidence to inform policy related to population weight. 

With her late mentor, Professor Jane Wardle, Clare developed Behavioural Susceptibility Theory, which proposes that genetic susceptibility to obesity is expressed partly through genetic influences on appetite. She is Director of Gemini, a population-based birth cohort of 2,400 British twin families established to investigate genetic and environmental contributions to appetite, growth, obesity and eating disorders. She is also Co-Director of the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Healthy Weight, which provides evidence to inform UK government policy on obesity and healthy weight. 

 Clare’s research has been recognised by awards from the UK and European Associations for the Study of Obesity and The Obesity Society in the US, and she has authored evidence-based books for parents and carers, translating the science of appetite into tailored feeding guidance.