Measuring the healthiness of Ghanaian children’s food environments to prevent obesity and Non-Communicable Diseases
Like many countries in Africa, Ghana is experiencing an increase in obesity and nutrition-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Current statistics for Ghana indicate that annually, NCDs account for about 43% of all deaths. It has long been recognized that the physical and social environments – in which we live, work, and eat are critical determinants of health. More recently, there has been a greater focus on the food environment (FE) as a key determinant of health. We do know that unhealthy food environment drives unhealthy diets; unhealthy diet is one of four main risk factors for NCDs. Code-named "MEALS4NCDs Project", this project will provide Measurement Evaluation, Accountability and Leadership Support (MEALS) for NCDs prevention in Ghana and beyond. Currently, the project is focused on measuring and supporting public sector actions that create healthy food marketing and food provisioning environments for children and adolescents in Ghana, with the aim to prevent obesity nutrition-related NCDs.
Project Overview
Like many countries in Africa, Ghana is experiencing an increase in obesity and nutrition-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Read moreProject Team
This project is a collaboration between 10 researchers from 7 academic and research institutions across Ghana, Kenya, Netherlands, France and Belgium.
Read moreProject Reports
The MEALS4NCDs project reports cover all activities the project’s technical work packages and two capacity building workshops
See reports"Available evidence shows that unhealthy food environments drive unhealthy diets; unhealthy diet is one of four main risk factors for NCDs. This project will measure and support public sector actions that create healthy food marketing and food provision environments for children and adolescents to prevent obesity nutrition-related NCDs"
Hot Off the Press
This library provides access to a curated set of publications authored by the MEALS4NCDs research team and from associated projects. The resources in this section are relevant to food environment research in Africa and other Low-and Middle-Income countries worldwide. This publication's library will be updated periodically.
Implementation of healthy food environment policies to prevent nutrition-related non-communicable diseases in Ghana: National experts’ assessment of government action PDF
Commercial food advertising on the campus of Ghana’s largest University PDF
Healthiness of foods on promotional flyers of fast-food outlets located within Accra-based shopping malls PDF
News & Events
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Launch of the “1St Africa Food Environment Research Network (FERN) Nov 3, 2020
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Important Notice! FERN 2020 Meeting: COVID-19 Alert
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Postdoctoral Fellowship in Food Environment Research
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MEALS4NCDs Prevention Project, the Dietary Transitions in Ghanaian/African Cities Projects, and others partner to deliver National Multi-Stakeholder Nutrition Forum and Ghana’s 1st National Nutrition Conference
Video
"Workshops will focus on strengthening capacity and training researchers in the African sub-region, whose work relate directly to improving food environments in Africa, to adapt the INFORMAS protocols and processes in their respective countries."