Research Projects
Translating the Depression-Obesity Link: A Mixed-Methods Investigation of Clinical Trajectories and Patient Perspectives Using Electronic Health Records

Depression and obesity are two of the most prevalent public health challenges worldwide, frequently co-occurring and synergistically increasing the risk of physical comorbidity, cardiovascular disease, and reduced life expectancy. While psychotropic medications are effective in improving psychiatric outcomes, many are also associated with adverse metabolic side-effects that complicate clinical management. This project adopts a robust mixed-methods design, combining a population-based electronic health-record database approach with in-depth qualitative investigations. By comprehensively examining the bidirectional relationship between depression and obesity alongside lived patient experiences, the study aims to translate these integrated findings directly into real-world clinical practice. Ultimately, this approach will facilitate the development of more personalized, patient-centered interventions that effectively bridge the gap between physical and mental health care.

Professor HKY Lo , Department of Psychiatry

Dr Heidi Lo is a clinical assistant professor at the Department of Psychiatry at the School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine. She received Fellowship from the Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists in 2021. Dr. Lo directs a youth mental health clinic that addresses mood disturbances and complex sociocultural challenges in persons aged 18-25, focusing on their unique developmental and transition-related needs. Her research interests include depression, mood disorders, suicidal prevention, neuromodulation and youth mental health. Since joining the faculty these 3 years, she has more than 80 articles in international peer-reviewed Q1 journals. She also has more than 10 articles with her students as first-author/ co-authors.  She also leads public initiatives like @deer.emo to promote accessible mental health awareness and advocacy.
 
Dr Heidi Lo is psychiatry specialist and a researcher and a teacher in the Faculty of Medicine, her research interest is in clinical psychiatry and advancing treatment, especially in depression and other mood issues. She used experience sampling methodology, digital interventions and neuromodulation techniques. Her accomplishments include receiving the President’s Prize from the Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists in 2021 , the Fellowship Award from the Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology in 2024 for her advocacy in suicide prevention., and was elected Distinguished Young Fellow in the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine in 2025. She has special interest in mindfulness and youth mental health. She also leads initiatives on mental health literacy and research translation, working to bring evidence-based knowledge to the public and hopes to cut through the noise of today’s content-saturated metaverse.

Biography
HKU Scholars Hub
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ORCID
lokaying@hku.hk

For more information or to express interest for this project, please email the supervisor or the specified contact point in the project description.  Interested candidates are advised to enclose with your email:

1. your CV,
2. a brief description of your research interest and experience, and
3. two reference letters (not required for HKUMed UG students seeking MRes[Med]/URIS projects).

Information on the research programme, funding support and admission documentations could be referenced online at the Research Postgraduate Admissions website. General admission enquiries should be directed to rpgmed@hku.hk.

HKUMed MBBS students interested in the Master of Research in Medicine (MRes[Med]) programme may visit the programme website for more information.  

HKUMed UG students interested in the Undergraduate Research Internship Scheme (URIS) may visit the scheme’s website for more information.