Grant: Team Grant: GACD 2022: NCD Prevention in Cities - Priority Research Area

Non communicable diseases (NCDs) including heart disease and stroke known as cardiovascular diseases are largely preventable and treatable. The roots of these diseases begin in childhood, through poor diets and low levels of outdoor active play. Taking steps to promote healthy eating and physical activity early in childhood can go a long way to prevent these diseases in adulthood. However, we are now starting to see an increase in the prevalence of obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes in children of all ages, especially in urban environments. We propose to address 2 important problems in our study - preventing children from developing early disease; and reduce the impact of food production on the planet's climate by harnessing their common causes including how food is grown and processed, how goods and people travel, and how cities and parks are designed. Designing healthy active living interventions for children in cities in high as well as low- and middle-income countries can help improve health of children now, and prevent them from developing diseases as adults. In this proposal we will hear from people living in these neighborhoods, and, using data collected from national surveys, work with them to and co-design a multi-pronged intervention to improve health, and test this program to see if it works in cities in Canada and Jamaica.