About
Prof. Thornton is an Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Marketing at the University of Antwerp.
His background spans social science, geography, epidemiology, and public health. After more than 15 years working in Australia (University of Melbourne and Deakin University), he relocated to Belgium in 2021. Over more than 20 years, he has examined how social and spatial conditions shape everyday health behaviours, with the majority of his work focused on food behaviours, particularly among populations exposed to structural disadvantage.
A consistent thread in his research is responsiveness to emerging societal trends, such as urban densification and the digitalisation of food systems.
His research is cited in numerous policy documents aimed at promoting environments that support healthier behaviours.
Go to the personal page of Prof. Lukar Thornton
Research Interest/Expertise
Food practices
Urban environments
Food supply
Socioeconomic inequalities
Health
Societal engagement / Impact
In addition to citations in multiple policy documents, Prof Thornton has written several commissioned research reports. His current Horizon Europe project partners with Stad Antwerpen to promote more active communities, and his Kom op Tegen Kanker project includes collaborations with local governments in Ghent and Antwerp, as well as local retailers and universities, to promote non-alcoholic beverage consumption among university students.
Selected Publications
- Oostenbach, L. H., Keeble, M., Vanoutrive, T., Poelman, M.P., Kamphuis, C.B.M, Van Lippevelde, W., & Thornton, L. (2025). Profiling users and non-users of meal delivery services in Belgium using latent class analysis. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 22(1): 133.
- Thornton, L.E., Schroers, R., Lamb, K.E., Daniel, M., Ball, K., Chaix, B., Kestens, Y., Best, K. Oostenbach, L., Coffee, N.T. (2022) Operationalising the 20-minute neighbourhood. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 19:15
- Andrews, F., Johnson, L., Horne, R., Thornton, L.E. (2024) The interrelationships between kitchen design and food practices for apartment dwellers in Melbourne, Australia: an exploratory study. Cities & Health. 8(6), 991-1002.