PROJECT DESCRIPTION
____________________
Low- and middle-income Arab countries are undergoing a rapid nutrition transition with increases in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among young and adult populations, accompanied by a rise in diet-related non communicable diseases (NCDs). Although children's food choices and dietary behaviors are early risk factors for the development of NCDs, research on factors that influence these behaviors remains scarce in the region. School and neighborhood environments mediate the effect of societal forces on children's diets. However, little is known about the drivers of children's food choices within these environments, and their potential to be used as levers for intervention.
This project aims to inform context-specific interventions targeting childhood overweight in the urban settings of Greater Beirut and Greater Tunis, and ultimately to foster the development of food environments that enable healthy eating among children and their families.
The research uses a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods to assess individual diets and the contextual factors that influence children's food choices. Innovative locally relevant tools were developed to describe and map food environments and food choice paths experienced by children at the level of families, schools and communities. Researchers will compare specific behavioral and contextual factors in Lebanon and Tunisia, as well as socio-cultural and gender roles that influence children's food choices. The team will also identify intervention points in the daily routine of children, including school and community food policies that represent threats to, or opportunities for healthier eating.
Research Timeline: 2018-2021
REPORT CARDS
____________________
Explore the Report Cards Revealing the Key Findings for Greater Beirut
Report Card 2022 2022 ملخص البحث
Greater Beirut بيروت الكبرى
CONFERENCES
____________________
Click on each conference to explore the posters presented
The 10th International Conference on Nutrition and Growth (N&G 2023)
London, United Kingdom
March 30 - April 1, 2023
The 7th Annual Agriculture, Nutrition and Health (AHN) Academy Week
Online and South Africa
June 20-30, 2022
LEARNING TOOLS
____________________
The videos serve as a powerful tool to increase awareness among parents and children about the detrimental effects of unhealthy food environments
PUBLICATIONS
_________
How neighbourhood food shops influence children’s diets in Beirut and Tunis
Most food retailers surrounding schools in the Lebanese and Tunisian capitals sell unhealthy foods, and children in schools whose neighborhoods have a higher density of unhealthy food retailers and advertisements are more likely to be overweight or obese......read more
BRIDGE. OUTSOURCE. TRANSFORM (B.O.T.)
Un détaillant alimentaire près d’une école publique dans le quartier de Tariq El Jdideh à Beyrouth, au Liban.
WORKSHOPS
_________
Check out the recording of the SCALE's captivating webinar, where we discuss the fascinating insights that emerged from the study in Arab cities
SESSION 1:
The Economics of Food Environments and Food Choice
SESSION 2:
Food Environments of School-Aged Children
SESSION 3:
Multi Level Determinants of Nutritional Status
Coming up on Sepetmber 7, 2023!
TEAM
_________
Investigators
- Dr. Hala Ghattas (PI), Assistant Research Professor and Interim Director, CRPH, AUB
- Dr. Jalila El-Ati (Co-PI), Professor of Nutrition and Physiology and Head of Studies and Planning National Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology (INNTA), Tunisia
- Dr. Jad Chaaban (Co-I), Associate Professor of Applied Economics, Department of Agricultural Sciences, AUB
- Dr. Ali Chalak (Co-I), Associate Professor of Applied Economics, Department of Agricultural Sciences, AUB
- Dr. Shady Elbassuoni (Co-I), Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science, AUB
Collaborator
Research Team
Funder