Dr Amelia Hollywood

Biography

Dr Hollywood is a Research Fellow at the Department of Psychology, University of Surrey. She joined the department in October 2006, having previously worked as a research assistant at the Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London. On joining the department Dr Hollywood completed a PhD in people’s experiences of taking orlistat, an obesity medication, under the supervision of Prof Jane Ogden. She has since conducted a range of research including that with elite athletes and bariatric patients. She is currently the project manager for the Bariatric Rehabilitation Service and is a Practitioner Psychologist.

Research Interests

Obesity

I have a keen interest in obesity and in particular facilitating behaviour change and maintenance. My research has focused on the medical management of obesity, specifically exploring pharmacological and surgical methods in terms of adherence, beliefs and behaviour.

Rumination

I also have an interest in how elite athletes unwind after training and how they unwind before and after competitions.

Research Collaborations

Professor Jane Ogden, University of Surrey.

Dr Mark Cropley, University of Surrey.

Mr Christopher Pring, Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust

Mr Majid Hashemi, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Publications

Hollywood, A., Ogden, J. & Pring, C. (2012). The impact of a bariatric rehabilitation service on weight loss and psychological adjustment - study protocol. BMC Public Health 2012, 12:275.

Hollywood, A. & Ogden, J. (2011). Taking orlistat: Predicting weight loss over 6 months. Journal of Obesity.

Van den Heuvel, A., Hollywood, A., Hogg, J., Dormandy, E., Chitty, L., Kabra, M., Ma, R., Masturzo, B. & Marteau, T. (2008). Informed choice to undergo prenatal screening for thalassemia: a description of written information given to pregnant women in Europe and beyond. Prenatal Diagnosis; 28: 727–734.

Hall, S.,Chitty, L., Dormandy, E., Hollywood, A., Wildschut, H., Fortuny, A., Masturzo, B., Sˇantavy´, J., Kabra, M., Runmei Ma, R. & Marteau, T. (2007). Undergoing prenatal screening for Down’s syndrome: presentation of choice and information in Europe and Asia. European Journal of Human Genetics, 15, 563–569.

Hollywood, A. & Ogden, J. (Submitted). Failing to lose weight whilst taking orlistat: a qualitative study of patients at 18 months follow up.

Conference Presentations

Hollywood, A. & Ogden, J. (2010). Changing beliefs and behaviour after taking obesity medication: 18 months follow up. Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference.

Hollywood, A. & Ogden, J. (2009). Short term changes in individuals taking orlistat, from baseline to six months follow up. British Psychological Society’s (BPS) Division of Health Psychology (DHP) Annual Conference.

Hollywood, A. & Ogden, J. (2008). Patients’ experiences of taking Xenical: a quantitative longitudinal study. The PSI Division of Health Psychology in association with the British Psychological Society Annual Conference.

Hollywood, A. & Ogden, J. (2008). Patients’ experiences of taking orlistat: a quantitative longitudinal study. EHPS/DHP Health Psychology Conference.

Affiliations

Chartered member of the British Psychological Society.

Member of the British Psychological Society's Division of Health Psychology.

Practitioner Psychologist and Health Psychologist, Health Professions Council.

Committee Memberships

Faculty Research Committee, University of Surrey.

Early Career Researcher Reps Committee, University of Surrey.

British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology Committee, CPD sub-committee.