Where Nutrition Meets Global Health and Equity
We explore how urban food systems, affordability, and everyday environments shape cognitive health, nutrition, and chronic disease in low‑ and middle‑income countries with a focus on Africa and Asia.
LMICs are experiencing rapid increases in obesity and diet‑related risk factors, shaped by urban food environments, affordability, and commercial food systems
Cardiovascular mortality has declined in high‑income countries but increased in LMICs, driven by social, environmental, and commercial determinants
Cognitive impairment affects nearly 1 in 5 adults over 50 globally, with higher vulnerability in LMICs due to food insecurity, stress, and environmental exposures
Across LMICs, especially urban middle‑income settings, UPFs make up 40–60% of daily calories, with the highest levels in urban, younger, and lower‑income households
For adults over 50, severe food insecurity increases the odds of mild cognitive impairment by 2.5X, a clear risk for ageing populations in LMICs
Urbanisation is accelerating across low‑ and middle‑income countries (LMICs), with many now approaching or exceeding 60–80% urban populations. As cities grow, food access, affordability, and everyday stress increasingly shape nutrition, cognitive health, and chronic disease.
Core Areas of Focus
How city environments, supermarkets, street vendors, and food access shape everyday diets in rapidly urbanising LMICs.
Urban Food Systems
How nutrition, stress, and lived environments influence cognitive function, mental well‑being, and cardiometabolic health across the life course.
Brain and Heart Health
How affordability, income cycles, and structural inequities determine who can access nutritious food in LMIC cities.
Food Security and Inequality
How dietary patterns, ultra‑processed foods, and nutrient gaps affect health outcomes in urban populations.
Nutrition and Diet Quality
Africa’s Rising Burden of Obesity and Disease
Exploring the rise of obesity and NCDs in Africa compared to global trends, driven by urbanisation and changing lifestyles
Global Health Trifecta: Alcohol, UPFs and Mental Health
An overview of the shared mechanisms between alcohol, ultra‑processed foods and how they intersect with mental health
Rising Food Costs in the UK and Vulnerable Communities
Exploring the realities and challenges of food insecurity in the UK: causes, impacts, and potential solutions for a healthier, more equitable future