Shaping public health interventions and policy around diabetes in 36 cities globally

Research led by Professor David Napier at UCL's Anthropology department has shown that cultural awareness is central to understanding human health and developing more effective and equitable policies

Synopsis

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The rise in obesity and associated noncommunicable diseases’ (NCDs) such as type 2 diabetes is one of the most serious challenges for the health of populations around the world. Napier developed a research method that identifies rapidly and systematically diabetes- and other health vulnerabilities in urban populations to enhance health promotion and disease prevention strategies, and to improve practices at local community, city, and national levels. The research is implemented through the Cities Changing Diabetes (CCD) programme (covering 36 cities in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America with a combined population of over 200,000,000). The method is being applied to assess COVID-19 vulnerabilities across Europe and informed the policy brief, Improving Pandemic Response: Global Lessons and Cultural Insights from COVID-19, supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

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