PhD graduate Athina Raftopoulou awarded extraordinary doctoral prize

Athina Raftopoulou, PhD graduate in Economics at the UB School of Economics, has been awarded the extraordinary doctoral prize for the academic year 2018-2019. The decision was taken by the Governing Council of the University of Barcelona last October 7th, 2020. 

Dr Raftopoulou defended her doctoral thesis on “Essays on the Economics of Obesity” on January 28th, 2019. The research aims to analyse the economic and social factors that influence the risk of individuals suffering from obesity in order to guide the design of public policies aimed at fighting it. 

Part of the study, directed by UB School of Economics researcher Dr Joan Gil, has been financed thanks to the support of 49 contributors who raised €6,375 through the crowdfunding platform Verkami last March. She published one of the papers that constitute the thesis: “Geographic determinants of individual obesity risk in Spain: A multilevel approach” at Economics and Human Biology, 24:185-193, 2017.

We recently interviewed Dr Raftopoulou to find out more about her interesting research and her experience as a PhD student at the UB School of Economics. 

How do you feel about obtaining this prize?

The transition period between completing a PhD and finding a permanent academic job can be one of the most challenging periods of any academic career. Such prizes are important for young researchers as they serve as a great recognition of our research and boost our confidence, which is of critical importance for our next steps in academia.  

That said, I feel very happy and overwhelmed as this prize is an acknowledgment and validation of a job well done. It is also a great opportunity to thank my supervisor for his guidance as well as the coordinating team of the program for the support.  

Why did you decide to undertake your research on the topic of obesity?

During my MSc I realized that data helps us empower everything we are doing. Data analysis helps us learn a great deal about different people, regions, countries, etc. We get curious and immerse ourselves in discovering everything there is to know. Among the different things I was curious to understand, was to apprehend why some people tend to be obese while others not.  

At a time where obesity was becoming an epidemic disease, I ended up undertaking my research on the topic of obesity, with a view to provide a holistic picture of the key determinants of this epidemic disease, as well as to elicit valuable information with particular policy relevance on the specific matter.  

What was your first conclusion when you finished the research?

Among the main conclusions, I report that apart from individual attributes, both environmental and regional characteristics influence individual BMI and obesity. This means that local governments and local communities can play an important role in the fight against obesity, by implementing specific policies such as promoting environments that encourage and support healthy lifestyles.  

How was your experience as a student at the University of Barcelona?

It was a great experience on account of many reasons. The very dynamic environment, the possibility to attend many seminars and workshops, as well as the advantages of discussing ideas with a group of great researchers was very fascinating and contributed heavily on the quality of my research. On top of that, the UB School of Economics is located in one of the most beautiful cities of the world, which made my experience even more wonderful. 

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