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Dr Sophie Lewis

Postdoctoral Research Associate

C43A - Jeffrey Miller Admin Building Cumberland Campus
The University of Sydney

Biographical details

Sophie is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Faculty of Health Sciences. Her PhD in public health from Monash University utilised qualitative interviews, and provided a better understanding of the lived experience of obesity in Australian society.

She has been involved in research including how Australian families are responding to messaging about weight; the impacts of gambling marketing strategies on youth; gamblers’ conceptualisations of the risks and benefits of their gambling; social connectedness and its impacts on musculoskeletal conditions; priority survivorship research issues of women who have experienced breast cancer; and media representations of obesity.

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Research interests

Her broad research interests include consumer-based health research, qualitative research methods, and stigma.

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Selected publications

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Journals

  • Thomas, S., Lewis, S., Westberg, K. (2013). 'You just change the channel if you don't like what you're going to hear: gamblers attitudes towards, and interactions with, social marketing campaigns'. Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy, doi: 10.1111/hex.12018.
  • Holland, K., Blood, R., Thomas, S., Lewis, S. (2013). Challenging stereotypes and legitimating fat: An analysis of obese people’s views on news media reporting guidelines and promoting body diversity. Journal of Sociology, DOI: 10.1177/1440783313480395.
  • Vitetta, L., Coulsona, S., Becka, S., Gramotneva, H., Dua, S., Lewis, S. (2013). The clinical efficacy of a bovine lactoferrin/whey protein Ig-rich fraction (Lf/IgF) for the common cold: A double blind randomized study. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2012.12.006.
  • Thomas, S., Lewis, S., Westberg, K., Derevensky, J. (2013). What Influences the Beliefs, Behaviours and Consumption Patterns of ‘Moderate Risk’ Gamblers? International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, Published Online DOI 10.1007/s11469-013-9432-7.
  • Knoesen, N., Mancuso, S., Thomas, S., Komesaroff, P., Lewis, S., Castle, D. (2012). Relationship between Severity of Obesity and Mental Health: An Australian Community Survey. Asia-Pacific Psychiatry, 4(1), 67-75.
  • Thomas, S., Lewis, S., Duong, J., McLeod, C. (2012). Sports betting marketing during sporting events: a stadium and broadcast census of Australian Football League matches. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 36(2), 145-152.
  • Lewis, S., Thomas, S., Hyde, J., Castle, D., Blood, R., Komesaroff, P. (2011). "I don't eat a hamburger and large chips every day!" A qualitative study of the impact of public health messages about obesity on obese adults. BMC Public Health, 10(1), 309.
  • Thomas, S., Lewis, S., Haycock, J., McLeod, C. (2011). "They are working every angle." A qualitative study of Australian adults' attitudes towards, and interactions with, gambling industry marketing strategies. International Gambling Studies, 12(1), 111-127.
  • Lewis, S., Thomas, S., Blood, R., Castle, D., Hyde, J., Komesaroff, P. (2011). 'I'm searching for solutions': why are obese individuals turning to the Internet for help and support with 'being fat'? Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy, 14(4), 339-350.
  • Holland, K., Blood, R., Thomas, S., Lewis, S., Komesaroff, P., Castle, D. (2011). 'Our girth is plain to see': An analysis of newspaper coverage of Australia's Future 'Fat Bomb'. Health, Risk and Society, 13(1), 31-46.
  • Lewis, S., Thomas, S., Hyde, J., Castle, D., Komesaroff, P. (2011). A Qualitative Investigation of Obese Men’s Experiences with Their Weight. American Journal of Health Behavior, 35(4), 458-469.
  • Lewis, S., Thomas, S., Blood, R., Castle, D., Hyde, J., Komesaroff, P. (2011). How do obese individuals perceive and respond to the different types of obesity stigma that they encounter in their daily lives? A qualitative study. Social Science and Medicine, 73(9), 1349-1356.
  • Dickinson, M., Thomas, S., King, B., Lewis, S., Holland, K. (2011). The role of the Fatosphere in fat adults’ responses to obesity stigma: A model of empowerment without a focus on weight loss. Qualitative Health Research, 21(12), 1679-1691.
  • Thomas, S., Lewis, S., Hyde, J., Castle, D., Komesaroff, P. (2010). "The solution needs to be complex." Obese adults' attitudes about the effectiveness of individual and population based interventions for obesity. BMC Public Health, 10(1), 420.
  • Lewis, S., Thomas, S., Blood, R., Hyde, J., Castle, D., Komesaroff, P. (2010). Do Health Beliefs and Behaviors Differ According to Severity of Obesity? A Qualitative Study of Australian Adults. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 7, 443-459.
  • Thomas, S., Karunaratne, A., Castle, D., Lewis, S., Knoesen, N., Honigman, R., Komesaroff, P. (2010). ‘Just Bloody Fat!’: A Qualitative Study of Body Image, Self-Esteem and Coping in Obese Adults. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 12(1), 39-49.

Conferences

  • Holland, K., Blood, R., Thomas, S., Karunaratne, A., Lewis, S. (2010). 'That's Not Reality for Me': Australian Audiences Respond to The Biggest Loser. International Communications Association 2010: Matters of Communication: Political, Cultural and Technological Challenges, Singapore.
  • Blood, R., Holland, K., Thomas, S., Karunaratne, A., Lewis, S. (2010). On Being 'Fat': Obese and Overweight Australians Respond to News Depictions of Obesity and Overweight. International Communications Association 2010: Matters of Communication: Political, Cultural and Technological Challenges, Singapore.
  • Holland, K., Blood, R., Thomas, S., Karunaratne, A., Lewis, S. (2009). Consuming children: An analysis of Australian press coverage of the claims and counterclaims of advocacy and industry groups in relation to a proposed ban on 'junk food' advertising. Record of the Communications and Policy Research Forum, University of Technology, Sydney.

Report

  • Thomas, S., Lewis, S. (2012). Conceptualisations of gambling risks and benefits: A socio-cultural study of 100 Victorian gamblers. A study funded by the Victorian Department of Justice, Office of Gaming and Racing.
  • Thomas, S., Lewis, S., Browning, C. (2010). Social Connectedness: An evidenced based review and recommendations for Arthritis Victoria. Consumer Health Research Group (CHaRGe), Primary Care Research Unit, Monash University.

2013

  • Thomas, S., Lewis, S., Westberg, K. (2013). 'You just change the channel if you don't like what you're going to hear: gamblers attitudes towards, and interactions with, social marketing campaigns'. Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy, doi: 10.1111/hex.12018.
  • Holland, K., Blood, R., Thomas, S., Lewis, S. (2013). Challenging stereotypes and legitimating fat: An analysis of obese people’s views on news media reporting guidelines and promoting body diversity. Journal of Sociology, DOI: 10.1177/1440783313480395.
  • Vitetta, L., Coulsona, S., Becka, S., Gramotneva, H., Dua, S., Lewis, S. (2013). The clinical efficacy of a bovine lactoferrin/whey protein Ig-rich fraction (Lf/IgF) for the common cold: A double blind randomized study. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2012.12.006.
  • Thomas, S., Lewis, S., Westberg, K., Derevensky, J. (2013). What Influences the Beliefs, Behaviours and Consumption Patterns of ‘Moderate Risk’ Gamblers? International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, Published Online DOI 10.1007/s11469-013-9432-7.

2012

  • Thomas, S., Lewis, S. (2012). Conceptualisations of gambling risks and benefits: A socio-cultural study of 100 Victorian gamblers. A study funded by the Victorian Department of Justice, Office of Gaming and Racing.
  • Knoesen, N., Mancuso, S., Thomas, S., Komesaroff, P., Lewis, S., Castle, D. (2012). Relationship between Severity of Obesity and Mental Health: An Australian Community Survey. Asia-Pacific Psychiatry, 4(1), 67-75.
  • Thomas, S., Lewis, S., Duong, J., McLeod, C. (2012). Sports betting marketing during sporting events: a stadium and broadcast census of Australian Football League matches. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 36(2), 145-152.

2011

  • Lewis, S., Thomas, S., Hyde, J., Castle, D., Blood, R., Komesaroff, P. (2011). "I don't eat a hamburger and large chips every day!" A qualitative study of the impact of public health messages about obesity on obese adults. BMC Public Health, 10(1), 309.
  • Thomas, S., Lewis, S., Haycock, J., McLeod, C. (2011). "They are working every angle." A qualitative study of Australian adults' attitudes towards, and interactions with, gambling industry marketing strategies. International Gambling Studies, 12(1), 111-127.
  • Lewis, S., Thomas, S., Blood, R., Castle, D., Hyde, J., Komesaroff, P. (2011). 'I'm searching for solutions': why are obese individuals turning to the Internet for help and support with 'being fat'? Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy, 14(4), 339-350.
  • Holland, K., Blood, R., Thomas, S., Lewis, S., Komesaroff, P., Castle, D. (2011). 'Our girth is plain to see': An analysis of newspaper coverage of Australia's Future 'Fat Bomb'. Health, Risk and Society, 13(1), 31-46.
  • Lewis, S., Thomas, S., Hyde, J., Castle, D., Komesaroff, P. (2011). A Qualitative Investigation of Obese Men’s Experiences with Their Weight. American Journal of Health Behavior, 35(4), 458-469.
  • Lewis, S., Thomas, S., Blood, R., Castle, D., Hyde, J., Komesaroff, P. (2011). How do obese individuals perceive and respond to the different types of obesity stigma that they encounter in their daily lives? A qualitative study. Social Science and Medicine, 73(9), 1349-1356.
  • Dickinson, M., Thomas, S., King, B., Lewis, S., Holland, K. (2011). The role of the Fatosphere in fat adults’ responses to obesity stigma: A model of empowerment without a focus on weight loss. Qualitative Health Research, 21(12), 1679-1691.

2010

  • Thomas, S., Lewis, S., Hyde, J., Castle, D., Komesaroff, P. (2010). "The solution needs to be complex." Obese adults' attitudes about the effectiveness of individual and population based interventions for obesity. BMC Public Health, 10(1), 420.
  • Holland, K., Blood, R., Thomas, S., Karunaratne, A., Lewis, S. (2010). 'That's Not Reality for Me': Australian Audiences Respond to The Biggest Loser. International Communications Association 2010: Matters of Communication: Political, Cultural and Technological Challenges, Singapore.
  • Lewis, S., Thomas, S., Blood, R., Hyde, J., Castle, D., Komesaroff, P. (2010). Do Health Beliefs and Behaviors Differ According to Severity of Obesity? A Qualitative Study of Australian Adults. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 7, 443-459.
  • Blood, R., Holland, K., Thomas, S., Karunaratne, A., Lewis, S. (2010). On Being 'Fat': Obese and Overweight Australians Respond to News Depictions of Obesity and Overweight. International Communications Association 2010: Matters of Communication: Political, Cultural and Technological Challenges, Singapore.
  • Thomas, S., Lewis, S., Browning, C. (2010). Social Connectedness: An evidenced based review and recommendations for Arthritis Victoria. Consumer Health Research Group (CHaRGe), Primary Care Research Unit, Monash University.
  • Thomas, S., Karunaratne, A., Castle, D., Lewis, S., Knoesen, N., Honigman, R., Komesaroff, P. (2010). ‘Just Bloody Fat!’: A Qualitative Study of Body Image, Self-Esteem and Coping in Obese Adults. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 12(1), 39-49.

2009

  • Holland, K., Blood, R., Thomas, S., Karunaratne, A., Lewis, S. (2009). Consuming children: An analysis of Australian press coverage of the claims and counterclaims of advocacy and industry groups in relation to a proposed ban on 'junk food' advertising. Record of the Communications and Policy Research Forum, University of Technology, Sydney.
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