Dr Jo Pearce BSc, MSc, RNutr (Public Health)
Senior Lecturer in Nutrition
Summary
I joined Sheffield Hallam University in July 2019, following work as a nutritionist or researcher for organisations including; NHS, SureStart, the Centre for Pregnancy Nutrition, the Children's Food Trust and the University of Nottingham. My research interests and publication history include food provision and consumption in primary and secondary schools, universal infant free school meals, the link between school food and classroom behaviour, complementary feeding and maternal nutrition.
About
I completed my PhD in maternal and infant nutrition at the University of Nottingham (2022) and have an MSc in Public Health Nutrition from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (2003). I am also a Registered Nutritionist, RNutr (Public health) and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Before joining Sheffield Hallam University in July 2019, I worked as a nutritionist or researcher for organisations including; NHS, SureStart, the Centre for Pregnancy Nutrition, the Children's Food Trust and the University of Nottingham. I was also a teaching specialist at the University of Nottingham from 2013-2019.
I have peer-reviewed journal articles covering; food provision and consumption in primary and secondary schools, universal infant free school meals, the link between school food and classroom behaviour, complementary feeding and maternal nutrition. My current research interests lie in the areas of infant feeding and complementary feeding - particularly baby-led weaning.
Teaching
Department of Service Sector Management
Sheffield Business School
Food & Nutrition
MSc Nutrition with Public Health Management, MSc Nutrition for Sport and Exercise, MSc Nutrition with Obesity and Weight Management, MSc Food & Nutrition Sciences, MSc Food Consumer Marketing & Product Development
Food Chain, Work-Related Learning, Global Obesity, Physical Activity & Health
Research
Publications
Journal articles
Nield, L., Martin, H., Wall, C., Pearce, J., Rundle, R., Bowles, S., ... Beaumont, J.D. (2024). Consumer knowledge of and engagement with traditional takeaway and dark kitchen food outlets. NIHR Open Research, 4. http://doi.org/10.3310/nihropenres.13735.1
Wall, C., & Pearce, J. (2024). Greenhouse gas emissions of school lunches provided for children attending school nurseries: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. http://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.13345
Wall, C., & Pearce, J. (2023). Energy and nutrient content of school lunches provided for children attending school-based nurseries: A cross-sectional study. Public Health Nutrition. http://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980023002331
Pearce, J., & Wall, C.J. (2023). School lunch portion sizes provided for children attending early years settings within primary schools: a cross‐sectional study. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. http://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.13183
Pearce, J., & Rundle, R. (2022). Baby‐led weaning: a thematic analysis of comments made by parents using online parenting forums. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. http://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.13078
Langley‐Evans, S.C., Pearce, J., & Ellis, S. (2022). Overweight, obesity and excessive weight gain in pregnancy as risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes: A narrative review. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. http://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.12999
Pearce, J., & Langley-Evans, S.C. (2021). Comparison of food and nutrient intake in infants aged 6–12 months, following baby-led or traditional weaning: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. http://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.12947
Swift, J.A., Strathearn, L., Morris, A., Chi, Y., Townsend, T., & Pearce, J. (2018). Public health strategies to reduce sugar intake in the UK: An exploration of public perceptions using digital spaces. Nutrition Bulletin, 43 (3), 238-247. http://doi.org/10.1111/nbu.12346
Swift, J.A., Langley-Evans, S.C., Pearce, J., Jethwa, P.H., Taylor, M.A., Avery, A., ... Elliott-Sale, K.J. (2017). Antenatal weight management: Diet, physical activity, and gestational weight gain in early pregnancy. Midwifery, 49, 40-46. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2017.01.016
Goodchild, G.A., Faulks, J., Swift, J.A., Mhesuria, J., Jethwa, P., & Pearce, J. (2017). Factors associated with universal infant free school meal take up and refusal in a multicultural urban community. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 30 (4), 417-428. http://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.12442
Swift, J.A., Pearce, J., Jethwa, P.H., Taylor, M.A., Avery, A., Ellis, S., ... McMullen, S. (2016). Antenatal Weight Management: Women's Experiences, Behaviours, and Expectations of Weighing in Early Pregnancy. Journal of pregnancy, 2016. http://doi.org/10.1155/2016/8454759
Heikkilä, K., Pearce, J., Mäki, M., & Kaukinen, K. (2015). Celiac disease and bone fractures: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 100 (1), 25-34. http://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2014-1858
McGiveron, A., Foster, S., Pearce, J., Taylor, M.A., McMullen, S., & Langley-Evans, S.C. (2015). Limiting antenatal weight gain improves maternal health outcomes in severely obese pregnant women: findings of a pragmatic evaluation of a midwife-led intervention. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 28, 29-37. http://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.12240
Pearce, J., Wood, L., & Stevens, L. (2013). Portion weights of food served in English schools: have they changed following the introduction of nutrient-based standards? Journal of human nutrition and dietetics : the official journal of the British Dietetic Association, 26 (6), 553-562. http://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.12067
Pearce, J., Taylor, M.A., & Langley-Evans, S.C. (2013). Timing of the introduction of complementary feeding and risk of childhood obesity: a systematic review. International journal of obesity (2005), 37 (10), 1295-1306. http://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2013.99
Pearce, J., Wood, L., & Nelson, M. (2013). Lunchtime food and nutrient intakes of secondary-school pupils; a comparison of school lunches and packed lunches following the introduction of mandatory food-based standards for school lunch. Public health nutrition, 16 (6), 1126-1131. http://doi.org/10.1017/s1368980012003928
Pearce, J., & Langley-Evans, S.C. (2013). The types of food introduced during complementary feeding and risk of childhood obesity: a systematic review. International journal of obesity (2005), 37 (4), 477-485. http://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2013.8
Pearce, J., & Nelson, M. (2011). Comparison between school lunches and packed lunches in secondary schools. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 70 (OCE4). http://doi.org/10.1017/s0029665111002199
Pearce, J., Harper, C., Haroun, D., Wood, L., & Nelson, M. (2011). Short communicationKey differences between school lunches and packed lunches in primary schools in England in 2009. Public health nutrition, 14 (8), 1507-1510. http://doi.org/10.1017/s1368980010003605
Storey, H.C., Pearce, J., Ashfield-Watt, P.A.L., Wood, L., Baines, E., & Nelson, M. (2011). A randomized controlled trial of the effect of school food and dining room modifications on classroom behaviour in secondary school children. European journal of clinical nutrition, 65 (1), 32-38. http://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2010.227
Golley, R., Baines, E., Bassett, P., Wood, L., Pearce, J., & Nelson, M. (2010). School lunch and learning behaviour in primary schools: an intervention study. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 69 (OCE1). http://doi.org/10.1017/s0029665109991923
Golley, R., Baines, E., Bassett, P., Wood, L., Pearce, J., & Nelson, M. (2010). School lunch and learning behaviour in primary schools: an intervention study. European journal of clinical nutrition, 64 (11), 1280-1288. http://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2010.150
Conference papers
Wall, C., & Pearce, J. (2024). Energy and nutrient content of school lunches provided for children attending early years settings within primary schools: a cross-sectional study [abstract only]. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 82 (OCE5). http://doi.org/10.1017/S0029665123004068
Thomas, M., Coneyworth, L., Stubberfield, J., Pearce, J., & Welham, S. (2021). Investigating the iron and zinc content of a popular meal in the diet of UK children and its contribution to daily micronutrient intake for females aged 11–14 years. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 80 (OCE1). http://doi.org/10.1017/s0029665121000124
Kaklamanou, D., Wood, L., Pearce, J., Storey, C., & Nelson, M. (2012). Methodological Bias in the School Lunch, Perception and Behaviour Study. PSYCHOLOGY & HEALTH, 27, 238.