My key research interests are:
1. Understanding why food insecurity (not knowing if you will have enough food to eat at your next meal) is associated with weight gain. With the number of people experiencing food poverty increasing, it is critical to identify the mechanisms underpinning this association. This will help with the development of potential countermeasures.
2. Looking for ways to promote sustainable diets. It is estimated that the global demand for food will increase by 60% by the year 2050. This demand far outstrips our current global potential for food production, particularly in terms of meat. It is essential we identify effective ways to change consumer behaviours and identify interventions.
3. Seeking to understand how and why environmental cues promote overconsumption. For example, the presence of larger portion sizes, distraction, or variety within meals (e.g. all you can eat buffets)
Research funding
Co-I. National Institute of Health and Care Research (2024). £945,348.80. Project title: NOURISH (Nutrition, Obesity and Unhealthy food Relationships in food Insecure populations: Systems modelling of Health-related policies and outcomes) (Four years).
PI. British Psychological Society. (2023) £2,160. Project title: Investigating potential mediating pathways between food insecurity and physical activity (3 months). Keenan, G. S., & Dixon, H.
Co-I /site PI. British Academy / Leverhulme small research grant. (2022). £8,700. Project title: could the insurance hypothesis explain reduced levels of physical activity in food insecure populations? Gough T., Keenan, G. S. & Hardman, C. A. (Two years)
Co-I. The British Science Association: The ‘IF’ Ideas fund. (2021) £24,298. Project title: Good Mood Food project. Lee. A., Keenan, G. S., & Owen, L. (One year)
PI. Early career researcher support fund, University of Salford (2020) £2,490. Project title: Why are some individuals at greater risk of weight gain when they encounter food insecurity? Exploring differences in gender and impact of childhood experiences. Keenan, G. S.
Degrees
2015, University of Bristol, United Kingdom, PhD
2009, University of Bristol, United Kingdom, MSc (distinction)
2003, Keele University, United Kingdom, BSc (dual hons). Psychology and Human Resource Management
Journal article
Gough T, Brown O, Christiansen P, Hardman CA, Keenan GS. 2024. Investigating the mediating role of physical activity within the association between food insecurity and BMI Appetite, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Keenan GS, Royle WS, Marrow L, Scholey A, Benson S, Owen LJ. 2024. The association between COVID-19 related income loss and diet quality: The mediating role of distress Appetite, 200 :107570 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Gough T, Christiansen P, Hardman CA, Keenan GS. 2024. The development and validation of the food insecurity physical activity concerns scale Appetite, 200 :1-9 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Blanchard AE, Keenan G, Heym N, Sumich A. 2023. COVID-19 prevention behaviour is differentially motivated by primary psychopathy, grandiose narcissism and vulnerable Dark Triad traits Personality and Individual Differences, 204 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Keenan GS, Christiansen P, Owen LJ, Hardman CA. 2022. The association between COVID-19 related food insecurity and weight promoting eating behaviours: The mediating role of distress and eating to cope. Appetite, 169 :105835-105835 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Keenan GS, Christiansen P, Hardman CA. 2021. Household Food Insecurity, Diet Quality, and Obesity: An Explanatory Model Obesity, 29 :143-149 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Keenan G, Sheen F, Haynes A, Hardman C. 2020. Are participants aware of how external factors might influence their intake? PsyArXiv, DOI
Puddephatt JA, Keenan GS, Fielden A, Reaves DL, Halford JCG, Hardman CA. 2020. ‘Eating to survive’: A qualitative analysis of factors influencing food choice and eating behaviour in a food-insecure population Appetite, 147 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Robinson E, Henderson J, Keenan GS, Kersbergen I. 2019. When a portion becomes a norm: Exposure to a smaller vs. larger portion of food affects later food intake Food Quality and Preference, 75 :113-117 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Keenan GS, Childs L, Rogers PJ, Hetherington MM, Brunstrom JM. 2018. The portion size effect: Women demonstrate an awareness of eating more than intended when served larger than normal portions Appetite, 126 :54-60 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Keenan GS, Hardman CA, Robinson E. 2016. Awareness and portion size: Individuals appear to be more aware of the influence of larger portions than previously thought Appetite, 107 :684-684 DOI Publisher Url
Keenan GS, Brunstrom JM, Ferriday D. 2015. Effects of meal variety on expected satiation: Evidence for a 'perceived volume' heuristic Appetite, 89 :10-15 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Keenan GS, Ferriday D, Cutler R, Herbert V, Allirot X, Brunstrom JM. 2013. The effect of surprise on flavour-nutrient learning Appetite, 71 :480-480 DOI Publisher Url
Kostopoulou O, Russo JE, Keenan G, Delaney BC, Douiri A. 2012. Information distortion in physicians' diagnostic judgments Medical Decision Making, 32 :831-839 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Cutler R, Keenan GS, Allirot X, Brunstrom JM. 2012. Exploring flavour–nutrient learning using a novel paired-discrimination task Appetite, 59 :623-623 DOI Publisher Url
KEENAN GS, FERRIDAY D, BRUNSTROM JM. 2012. Effects of food variety on expected satiation. Evidence for a ‘perceived volume’ heuristic Appetite, 59 :629-629 DOI Publisher Url
Conference publication
Gough T, Brown O, Christiansen P, Hardman CA, Keenan GS. 2024. Investigating the mediating role of physical activity within the association between food insecurity and BMI Appetite, 199 :107447-107447 DOI Publisher Url
Bendall RCA, Keenan GS. 2023. Chronotype predicts body mass index via emotion regulation strategy use and emotional eating Appetite, 189 :106953-106953 DOI Publisher Url
Gough T, Christiansen P, Hardman CA, Keenan GS. 2023. The Development and Validation of the Food Insecurity Physical Activity Scale Appetite, 189 :106919-106919 DOI Publisher Url
Keenan GS, Tariq K, Christiansen P, Hardman CA. 2023. The development of a retrospective food insecurity in childhood scale Appetite, 189 :106920-106920 DOI Publisher Url
Keenan GS, Christiansen P, Owen LJ, Hardman CA. 2022. COVID19 related food insecurity and eating behaviours that may promote weight gain: The mediating role of distress and eating to cope. Appetite, 169 :105509-105509 DOI Publisher Url
preprint
Blanchard AE, Kennan G. 2024. Concern About COVID-19 Mediates the Relationship between Life-History Strategy and Stockpiling Food Elsevier BV DOI Publisher Url
Keenan GS, Sheen F, Haynes A, Hardman C. 2020. Larger portions make me eat more: Awareness of the external factors that influence food intake Center for Open Science DOI Publisher Url
Report
Bertenshaw E, Robinson E, Keenan G. 2016. Remembered enjoyment and customer purchasing intentions