Measurement of food literacy among the adult population in urban Uganda and Kenya: development and validation of an East African food literacy scale.

Objective: Food literacy (FL) is a potential approach to address the nutrition transition in Africa, but a validated tool is lacking. We developed and validated a scale to assess FL among Ugandan and Kenyan adult populations.

Design: A mixed-method approach was applied: (1) item development using literature, expert and target group insights, (2) independent country-specific validation (content, construct, criterion and concurrent) and (3) synchronisation of the two country-specific FL-scales.

Designing Mobile Phone Text Messages Using the Behavior Change Wheel Framework to Influence Food Literacy in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes in Kenya: Protocol for a Systematic Development Study.

Background: The worldwide prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) has increased in the past decade, and it is projected to increase by 126% by 2045 in Africa. At the same time, mobile phone use has increased in Africa, providing a potential for innovative mobile health interventions to support diabetes care.

Objective: This study aimed to apply the Behavior Change Wheel (BCW) framework to develop text messages to influence food literacy in adults with T2D in urban Kenya.

Effect of a complex lifestyle intervention to optimize metabolic health among females of reproductive age in urban Uganda, a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The metabolic health of urban Ugandans, mostly females, is increasingly becoming sub-optimal.

Objectives: We assessed the effect of a complex lifestyle intervention, based on a small change approach, on metabolic health among females of reproductive age in urban Uganda.

Methods: A cluster randomized controlled two-arm trial with a 1:1 allocation involving church communities in Kampala (Uganda) was undertaken.

Efficacy of Dietary Polyphenols from Whole Foods and Purified Food Polyphenol Extracts in Optimizing Cardiometabolic Health: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

The evidence from clinical trials concerning the efficacy of dietary polyphenols on cardiometabolic health is divergent. Therefore, this review aimed to determine the pooled effect of dietary polyphenols on cardiometabolic risk markers and compare the difference in efficacy between whole polyphenol-rich foods and purified food polyphenol extracts. We conducted a random-effect model meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effect of polyphenols on blood pressure, lipid profile, flow-mediated dilation (FMD), fasting blood glucose (FBG), waist circumference, and markers of inflammation.

The cardiometabolic profile and related dietary intake of Ugandans living with HIV and AIDS.

Introduction: Suboptimal diet and physical inactivity downgrade the putative benefits of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) among People Living with HIV (PLWH). However, there is paucity of literature on dietary intake and cardiometabolic profiles of PLWH in Uganda.

Methods: A cross-sectional study among PLWH in Uganda was conducted.

The conceptual framework for a combined food literacy and physical activity intervention to optimize metabolic health among women of reproductive age in urban Uganda.

Background: Metabolic health of urban Ugandans, mostly women, has increasingly become sub-optimal. As women are strategic for family behavioral change and do not meet WHO recommendations regarding dietary and physical activity (PA), there is an urgent need for science-based interventions to tackle unhealthy dietary and PA behaviors.

Objective: To develop a food literacy and PA promotion intervention to optimise metabolic health among women of reproductive age in urban Uganda.

A Mixed-Method Approach to Develop and Validate an Integrated Food Literacy Tool for Personalized Food Literacy Guidance.

Background: Food literacy refers to all practicalities associated with healthy eating. Current food literacy tools are limited in practical use in clinical practice. Therefore, an integrated food literacy tool (IFLT) to assess food literacy and to personalize food literacy guidance was developed and validated.

Determinants of dietary and physical activity behaviours among women of reproductive age in urban Uganda, a qualitative study.

Objective: To explore determinants of dietary and physical activity behaviours among women of reproductive age.

Design: Data were collected through focus group discussions (FGD). The FGD guide was based on a modified theoretical framework; theory of planned behaviour was incorporated with constructs of health belief model, precaution adoption process model, social cognitive and social support theory.

Determinants of dietary and physical activity behaviours among women of reproductive age in urban sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review.

Urban sub-Saharan Africa is in a nutrition transition shifting towards consumption of energy-dense nutrient-poor diets and decreasing physical activity. Determinants of nutrition transition in sub-Saharan Africa are presently not well understood. The objective of this review was to synthesise available data on determinants of dietary and physical activity behaviours among women of reproductive age in urban sub-Saharan Africa according to the socio-ecological framework.