Details

Purpose: To present the work of the Global Diet and Activity Research (GDAR) network, generating evidence to better understand the spatial distribution of urbanisation and climate-change related hazards for non-communicable diseases in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Rationale: 

A focus on upstream determinants of diet and physical activity requires engaging with the complex and interlinked factors that influence these determinants. The concept of a ‘syndemic’ (‘synergistic epidemic’) describes the co-occurrence of interacting epidemics and risks. In GDAR, we are exploring the interaction of mass urbanisation, rapid climate change, and epidemics of poor diet and physical inactivity. 

Across LMICs, population epidemiological profiles are significantly influenced by urbanisation processes driving dynamic changes to landuse and consequently to risk factors in urban spaces. The nature of urbanisation informs the degree of exposure to, and impacts of risks associated with climate change.

Contextually appropriate data are therefore needed to inform strategies that adopt a syndemic approach to promote healthy diets and physical activity, cognisant of these urbanisation and climate risks. This will require a better understanding of the spatial distribution of exposure to syndemic hazards and diet and physical activity behaviours. But such evidence on food and built environments that shape eating and activity behaviours come mostly from high-income countries.

To this end, the GDAR network conducted both field-based and virtual environmental audits to measure syndemic constructs relevant to physical activity and diet considering spatial deprivation in four African cities. 

Objectives:

To discuss methodological and logistical considerations when conducting field-based environmental audits of the built and food environment.

To discuss the reliability and feasibility of virtual audits for the built environment.

To stimulate discussion on the integration of different methodologies to measure syndemic constructs relevant to physical activity and healthy diets.

To consider the implications of spatial deprivation across fast-growing cities in Africa.  

Summary:

This session will be moderated, and presented by the GDAR network. Bringing the experience of having undertaken field-based and virtual environmental audits in Cameroon, South Africa, and Nigeria, the network will present the methodological opportunities and adaptations for the data collection of syndemic constructs. This will be followed by a discussion on how relevant the spatial disparities are and the importance of a nuanced approach to addressing urban health challenges between and within African cities. Finally, unique data will be presented and integrated with geospatial data, demonstrating the potential of a syndemic approach to identifying and addressing interlinked health risks.

Speaker