Dr Peter Yiga, PhD

Profile

Peter’s research focuses on cardiometabolic health and food systems, with current work examining salt consumption risk factors in West African settings, their associated health impacts, and the co-creation of tailored interventions to reduce intake. Prior to joining QMUL, he was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Dietary Health and Food System Transformations at the University of Leeds, and he holds a PhD in Nutritional Sciences from KU Leuven, Belgium.

Overall, his research centres on participatory and interdisciplinary approaches to designing and evaluating culturally tailored lifestyle and food environment interventions. He has expertise in applying leading frameworks, including the Intervention Mapping Protocol and the Behaviour Change Wheel, to co-develop and assess complex interventions. Peter is particularly interested in interdisciplinary translational research to co-create solutions that improve dietary and cardiometabolic health in the Global South and underserved populations in the Global North.

Research

Publications

Yiga P, Whitfield S, Tan PY, Chomba C, Menefee A, Kumwenda C, Kalenga P, Mfune T, Shannon C, Colenbrander W and Gong YY (2026) Understanding the role of policy in ongoing food environment transitions in Zambia and opportunities to build a healthy and sustainable environment. Front. Sustain. Food Syst. 10:1748997.  

Kiyimba T; Yiga P; Bamuwamye M; Van Damme E; Ogwok P; Van der Schueren B; Matthys C (2025) Harnessing traditional knowledge and experiences on food consumption in Uganda: a mixed-methods study exploring indigenous fruits and vegetables with potential cardiometabolic benefits. BMJ Public Health, 3, (2), pp. e001932.  

Kiyimba T; Kigozi F; Bamuwamye M; Yiga P; Nakatudde K; Nabbanja W; Ogwok P; Verdonck T; Cabooter D; Van der Schueren B; Matthys C. (2025). Effect of tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) on the cardiometabolic health of patients living with HIV and elevated triglyceride levels: a dose–response double-blind, randomized exploratory trial. Food & Function, 16, (11), pp. 4343-4355.  

Yiga P; Mokaya M; Kiyimba T; Ogwok P; Kyallo F; Koole JL; Boedt T; Matthys C. (2024). Measurement of food literacy among the adult population in urban Uganda and Kenya: development and validation of an East African food literacy scale. Public Health Nutrition, 27, (1), pp. e171.  

Mokaya M; Kyallo F; Yiga P; Koole JL; Boedt T; Vangoitsenhoven R; Matthys C. (2023). Designing Mobile Phone Text Messages Using the Behavior Change Wheel Framework to Influence Food Literacy in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes in Kenya: Protocol for a Systematic Development Study. JMIR Research Protocols, 12, pp. e48271.  

Kiyimba T; Yiga P; Bamuwamye M; Ogwok P; Van der Schueren B; Matthys C. (2023). Efficacy of Dietary Polyphenols from Whole Foods and Purified Food Polyphenol Extracts in Optimizing Cardiometabolic Health: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Advances in Nutrition, 14, (2), pp. 270-282.  

Yiga P; Van der Schueren B; Seghers J; Kiyimba T; Ogwok P; Tafiire H; Muluta SN; Matthys C. (2023). Effect of a complex lifestyle intervention to optimize metabolic health among females of reproductive age in urban Uganda, a randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 117, (2), pp. 436-443.  

Yiga P; Van Lippevelde W; Seghers J; Ogwok P; Tafiire H; Muluuta SN; Matthys C. (2022). The conceptual framework for a combined food literacy and physical activity intervention to optimize metabolic health among women of reproductive age in urban Uganda. BMC Public Health, 22, (1), pp. 351.  

Kiyimba T; Kigozi F; Yiga P; Mukasa B; Ogwok P; Van der Schueren B; Matthys C. (2022). The cardiometabolic profile and related dietary intake of Ugandans living with HIV and AIDS. Frontiers in Nutrition, 9, pp. 976744.  

Boedt T; Steenackers N; Verbeke J; Vermeulen A; De Backer C; Yiga P; Matthys C. (2022). A Mixed-Method Approach to Develop and Validate an Integrated Food Literacy Tool for Personalized Food Literacy Guidance. Frontiers in Nutrition, 8, pp. 760493.  

Yiga P; Ogwok P; Achieng J; Auma MD; Seghers J; Matthys C. (2021). Determinants of dietary and physical activity behaviours among women of reproductive age in urban Uganda, a qualitative study. Public Health Nutrition, 24, (12), pp. 3624-3636.  

De Backer C; Teunissen L; Cuykx I; Decorte P; Pabian S; Gerritsen S; Matthys C; Al Sabbah H; Van Royen K; Group TCCSS. (2021). An Evaluation of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Perceived Social Distancing Policies in Relation to Planning, Selecting, and Preparing Healthy Meals: An Observational Study in 38 Countries Worldwide. Frontiers in Nutrition, 7, pp. 621726.  

Yiga P; Seghers J; Ogwok P; Matthys C. (2020). Determinants of dietary and physical activity behaviours among women of reproductive age in urban sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review. British Journal Of Nutrition, 124, (8), pp. 761-772.