Dr Anca Dobrescu
BSc, PhD
Expertise
Anca is a Psychologist researching children’s eating behaviours and how families can adopt healthier, sustainable diets. Anca is also passionate about fostering inclusive, supportive, and engaging learning environments.
Current positions
Lecturer
School of Psychological Science
Contact
Press and media
Many of our academics speak to the media as experts in their field of research. If you are a journalist, please contact the University’s Media and PR Team:
Biography
My doctoral research, supervised by Dr Dani Ferriday and Prof Peter Rogers, focused on how parents make decisions about how and how much to feed their child across key stages of childhood (infancy, weaning, and preschool years) and how this might impact the child’s appetite regulation and weight.
Since completing my PhD, I have built a research programme exploring how families can be encouraged to adopt healthier and more sustainable diets. Alongside research, I am passionate about teaching and supporting student learning, which has guided my decision to continue in academia and to conduct pedagogical research. Since September 2022, I have been a Lecturer in the School of Psychological Science, working particularly on projects related to eating behaviour and child development, as well as pedagogical research that aims to improve student experience.
Research interests
My research explores how families can be supported to adopt healthier and more sustainable eating habits, with a particular focus on early childhood. I am interested in how parents make every day food decisions for their children, and how these are shaped by psychological, social, and environmental influences. I aim to better understand how early eating behaviours develop and how we can design interventions that promote long-term health and reduce dietary inequalities.
I use a range of methods including laboratory experiments (e.g. assessing portioning practices or child responses to a range of foods), observational studies, large-scale online surveys, qualitative interviews, and systematic reviews. I often take a mixed-methods approach to capture both behavioural patterns and lived experiences.
My work is interdisciplinary, drawing from psychology, nutrition, and public health. I am particularly interested in how health-related dietary change can align with sustainability goals, and how interventions can be adapted to suit the realities of family life. Ultimately, my research aims to generate evidence that can inform policy and support families in developing positive and healthy eating habits.
Publications
Selected publications
01/08/2025A systematic review of the relationship between portion size and indexes of adiposity in children
Obesity Reviews
What guidance is there on portion size for feeding preschool aged children (one to five years) in the UK and Ireland? A systematic grey literature review
Obesity Reviews
Recent publications
01/08/2025A systematic review of the relationship between portion size and indexes of adiposity in children
Obesity Reviews
A systematic review of the relationship between portion size and children’s body weight and BMI
Parent’s decisions about starting and ending a meal for their child during infancy, weaning and preschool: A cross-cultural qualitative study
Preschool Children who were Bottle-Fed during Infancy Consume Larger Portions of Food and Exhibit Greater Plate-Clearing Tendencies
Exploring relationships between the amount a parent serves themselves, how much they would serve their pre-school child and the amount their child would choose
Thesis
Teaching
Since September 2022, I have been a Lecturer in the School of Psychological Science at the University of Bristol. I started as the Unit Director for Psychological Research Methods unit (PSYC10010, Level 4), which uses a blended approach using online materials, workshops, problem classes, and lab sessions. I also delivered essay support for the Year 2 Brain and Cognition unit (PSYC20007,Level 5). In the following year, I taught on the Year 3, and led the Year 4 unit on Nutrition and Behaviour (PSYC31052/PSYCM0049, Levels 6 & 7).
I now co-lead the PSYCM0087 Lifespan Psychology unit on the MSc Conversion programme (Level 7), delivering lectures, leading seminars, and marking assessments including research proposals and exams. I also developed resources and organised transitions sessions to support students on this programme.
Alongside teaching, I serve as a personal and senior tutor, supervise research projects for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, and contribute to assessment marking and moderation. I am committed to pedagogical research and continuously refine my practice to enhance student learning and wellbeing.
Related people
Emeritus Professor Peter Rogers
Emeritus Professor
School of Psychological Science
Dr Dani Ferriday
Associate Professor in Nutrition and Behaviour
School of Psychological Science
Professor Ruth Kipping
Professor of Public Health
Bristol Medical School (PHS)
Dr Alice Porter
Senior Research Associate in Diet and Physical Activity
Bristol Medical School (PHS)