Understanding the dynamics driving obesity in socioeconomically deprived urban neighbourhoods: an expert-based systems map.

Background: Over the past decades, the prevalence of obesity among adults has rapidly increased, particularly in socioeconomically deprived urban neighbourhoods. To better understand the complex mechanisms behind this trend, we created a system map exposing the underlying system driving obesity prevalence in socioeconomically deprived urban neighbourhoods over the last three decades in the Netherlands.

Methods: We conducted Group Model Building (GMB) sessions with a group of thirteen interdisciplinary experts to develop a Causal Loop Diagram (CLD) of the obesogenic system.

Differential effects of air pollution on ischemic stroke and ischemic heart disease by ethnicity in a nationwide cohort in the Netherlands.

Background: Air pollution is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and contributes to health disparities, particularly among minority ethnic groups, who often face higher exposure levels. Knowledge on whether the effect of air pollution on cardiovascular diseases differs between ethnic groups is crucial for identifying mechanisms underlying health disparities, ultimately informing targeted public health strategies and interventions. We explored differences in associations between air pollution and ischemic stroke and ischemic heart disease (IHD) for the six largest ethnic groups in the Netherlands.

Green space visits among Turkish and South Asian Surinamese women with a high cardiometabolic risk living in disadvantaged neighborhoods in the Netherlands: motives, means and prerequisites.

Background: The use of urban green spaces differs by social characteristics, including gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic position. We examined motives, means and prerequisites to visit green space of marginalised populations with high cardiometabolic risk in the Netherlands, namely women with a Turkish or South Asian Surinamese background residing in disadvantaged neighbourhoods.

Methods: We conducted six focus group discussions in two Dutch cities.

Evidence on the effectiveness and equity of population-based policies to reduce the burden of type 2 diabetes: a narrative review.

There is increasing evidence for the effectiveness of population-based policies to reduce the burden of type 2 diabetes. Yet, there are concerns about the equity effects of some policies, whereby socioeconomically disadvantaged populations are not reached or are adversely affected. There is a lack of knowledge on the effectiveness and equity of policies that are both population based (i.

Lifestyle interventions for cardiometabolic health.

Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors such as poor diets and physical inactivity account for most of the cardiometabolic disease (CMD) burden, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Much of this burden is mediated by the effects of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors on overweight and obesity, and disproportionally impacts certain population groups-including those from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds. Combined lifestyle interventions (CLIs), which target multiple behaviors, have the potential to prevent CMD, but their implementation, reach and effectiveness in routine practice are often limited.

Co-creation in public health research: an introduction to basic principles.

Co-creation is a participatory design approach that leverages the experiential knowledge of non-academic actors. It is increasingly adopted in public health research to enhance the relevance, acceptability, and impact of interventions. This perspective article provides a practical introduction to co-creation, its application, and benefits and considerations for public health researchers.

Associations between dimensions of the social environment and cardiometabolic health outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: The social environment (SE), that is, the social relationships and social context in which groups of people live and interact, is an understudied element of the broader living environment which impacts health. We aim to summarise the available evidence on the associations between SE and cardiometabolic disease (CMD) outcomes.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

A Systems Innovation Perspective on Implementation and Sustainment Barriers for Healthy Food Store Interventions: A Reflexive Monitoring in Action Study in Dutch Supermarkets.

Background: Healthy food store interventions (HFIs) are an important health-promotion tool, but face implementation and sustainment barriers. This paper aims to explore the underlying factors that produce these barriers using an innovative systems innovation perspective, through the case study of a multi-component HFI. The HFI was implemented in a minor, national, cooperative supermarket chain, in the Netherlands, a competitive market where price-based competition is the norm.

Unveiling viewpoints on national food environment policies in the Dutch newspaper discourse: an interpretative media content analysis.

Background: National food environment policies can contribute to the reduction of diet-related non-communicable diseases. Yet, their implementation in the Netherlands remains low. It has been hypothesized that the media can play a pivotal role in inducing spikes in policy attention, thereby shaping political action.

The effects of nudging and pricing strategies on the availability and purchases of ultra-processed foods: A secondary analysis of the Supreme Nudge trial.

Regular consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) is a risk factor for morbidity and mortality. UPF are widely available in supermarkets. Nudging and pricing strategies are promising strategies to promote healthier supermarket purchases and may reduce UPF purchases.

Are Dutch adults equally susceptible to nudging and pricing strategies? Secondary analyses of the Supreme Nudge parallel cluster-randomised controlled supermarket trial.

Background: Supermarket interventions are promising to promote healthier dietary patterns, but not all individuals may be equally susceptible. We explored whether the effectiveness of nudging and pricing strategies on diet quality differs by psychological and grocery shopping characteristics.

Methods: We used data of the 12-month Supreme Nudge parallel cluster-randomised controlled supermarket trial, testing nudging and pricing strategies to promote healthier diets.

Exploring public health researchers' approaches, barriers, and needs regarding dissemination: A mixed-methods exploration.

Background: Although there is growing attention to research translation, dissemination practices remain underdeveloped. This study aimed to gain insights into the dissemination approaches, barriers for dissemination, and needs for dissemination support of public health researchers of the Amsterdam Public Health (APH) research institute.

Methods: A concurrent mixed-methods design was used, collecting quantitative and qualitative data through a survey and qualitative data from interviews.

Giving fruits and vegetables a tax break: lessons from a Dutch attempt.

Objective: Food taxation can improve diets by making unhealthy foods more expensive and by making healthy foods cheaper. In the Netherlands, a political window of opportunity arose in December 2021 to reduce the value-added tax (VAT) on fruits and vegetables to zero percent. The policy is now facing institutional friction along several fronts, however, delaying and potentially averting its implementation.

Global positioning system-based food environment exposures, diet-related, and cardiometabolic health outcomes: a systematic review and research agenda.

Background: Geographic access to food may affect dietary choices and health outcomes, but the strength and direction of associations may depend on the operationalization of exposure measures. We aimed to systematically review the literature on up-to-date evidence on the association between food environment exposures based on Global Positioning System (GPS) and diet-related and cardiometabolic health outcomes.

Methods: The databases PubMed, Embase.

Real-world nudging, pricing, and mobile physical activity coaching was insufficient to improve lifestyle behaviours and cardiometabolic health: the Supreme Nudge parallel cluster-randomised controlled supermarket trial.

Background: Context-specific interventions may contribute to sustained behaviour change and improved health outcomes. We evaluated the real-world effects of supermarket nudging and pricing strategies and mobile physical activity coaching on diet quality, food-purchasing behaviour, walking behaviour, and cardiometabolic risk markers.

Methods: This parallel cluster-randomised controlled trial included supermarkets in socially disadvantaged neighbourhoods across the Netherlands with regular shoppers aged 30-80 years.

Report on the Joint Workshop on the Relations between Health Inequalities, Ageing and Multimorbidity, Iceland, May 3-4, 2023.

This paper is a summary of key presentations from a workshop in Iceland on May 3-4, 2023 arranged by Aarhus University and with participation of the below-mentioned scientists. Below you will find the key messages from the presentations made by: Professor Jan Vandenbroucke, Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Emeritus Professor, Leiden University; Honorary Professor, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UKProfessor, Chair Henrik Toft Sørensen, Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital, DenmarkProfessor David H. Rehkopf, Director, the Stanford Center for Population Health Sciences, Stanford University, CA.

Associations between dimensions of the social environment and cardiometabolic risk factors: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: The social environment (SE), including social contacts, norms and support, is an understudied element of the living environment which impacts health. We aim to comprehensively summarize the evidence on the association between the SE and risk factors of cardiometabolic disease (CMD).

Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis based on studies published in PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science Core Collection from inception to 16 February 2021.