African and Caribbean communities in the UK often live in deprived socioeconomic conditions and have higher rates of obesity and non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Traditional approaches to improve diet and physical activity have been ineffective, resulting in persistent health inequalities. Positive deviance assumes that solutions already exist within communities, with positive deviants succeeding by demonstrating uncommon or different behaviours from others within their communities.
Dr Osei-Kwasi will identify and understand these positive deviant health-related diet and physical activity to understand how obesity and non-communicable diseases can be managed or prevented. This will enable the development of culturally-tailored public health interventions for African and Caribbean populations that foster community empowerment and support healthy ageing.
Dr Osei-Kwasi commented: “This award is a critical step towards my aspiration of becoming a research leader in developing lifestyle interventions to improve health. It will enable me to continue my research within underserved communities and foster new collaborations, supported by experienced academic mentors to leverage evidence to develop culturally tailored interventions to improve the health of African and Caribbean populations in the UK and beyond.”
Wellcome Accelerator Awards support researchers of Black, Bangladeshi and Pakistani heritage in the UK to undertake activities that put them in a stronger position to reach their next career stage