Research Lukar Thornton

Abstract

CITY-MOVE adapts and implements the WHO Global Action Plan on Physical Activity (GAPPA) in six cities across three continents and develops a cross-contextual evaluation framework for transferability and scalability. Physical activity is a key behavior to reduce the NCD burden, including protecting against cancers and type 2 diabetes. There are many evidence-based interventions for cities to promote physical activity, yet they remain under-implemented, with a whole-of-system approach particularly lacking, and often fail to target the least active or vulnerable groups. Knowledge gaps are: a) how to adapt, b) successfully implement, and c) evaluate interventions, and d) how to transfer lessons to other interventions, target groups and contexts. In partnership with the cities, we identified interventions targeting individuals across the life course, particularly vulnerable and least active groups, aligned with the GAPPA domains of active people, societies, environments and systems. CITY-MOVE will: 1) Develop a city-GAPPA Theory of Change and operationalise assessment measures; 2) Adapt city-GAPPA to six cities, engaging stakeholders in each context; 3) Support cities in successful implementation through action research in living labs; 4) Assess reach, adoption, feasibility, fidelity, and sustainability of selected interventions in each city; 5) Improve the development and utilisation of routinely collected data to support successful implementation; 6) Generate cross-contextual evidence on implementation, evaluation and scalability through multi-criteria decision assessment for 12 interventions in six cities; and 7) Generate global capacity through regional Communities of Practice. CITY-MOVE results lead to increased physical activity by target populations, contributing to reduced premature NCD mortality, and to adaptable solutions ready for take-up by implementers.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: van Olmen Josefien
• Co-promoter: Bastiaens Hilde
• Co-promoter: Thornton Lukar
• Co-promoter: Wouters Edwin

Research team(s)

• Primary and interdisciplinary care Antwerp (ELIZA)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Over the last decade, the food market has shifted with ready-to-eat meal delivery services infiltrating many major cities although the widespread proliferation in Belgium is relatively recent. There is a real risk that the current meal delivery system may increase many dietary (and subsequently health) risk factors, have negative consequences for local retailers, and lead to a widening of inequalities (e.g. for consumers through dietary outcomes and for neighbourhoods through local food supply). This project will investigate the ready-to-eat meal delivery system focusing on drivers of and the implications for consumers and local food retailers. Recognising that meal delivery services will become ever present in the future, the knowledge generated will be used to develop solutions to ensure positive changes such as ease of ordering healthy meals and profitable business opportunities for local retailers. We will utilise a systems sciences perspective with a critical focus on ensuring that the ready-to-eat meal delivery system is not widening dietary inequalities.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Thornton Lukar
• Co-promoter: Vanoutrive Thomas

Research team(s)

• Marketing

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This work will largely focus on the role of the environmental and socioeconomic determinants of food purchasing. With a focus on the neighbourhood design and housing conditions, the objective of the proposed research programme is to investigate modifiable environmental determinants that influence healthy food purchasing behaviours in metropolitan regions such as Antwerp.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Thornton Lukar
• Fellow: Thornton Lukar

Research team(s)

• Marketing

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The links between housing type (especially apartment living), kitchen conditions and food practices have rarely been examined internationally. Building industry representatives suggest there is a deliberate push to design apartments with smaller kitchens on the assumption people are not going to cook as often.1 When food prepared at home is replaced by ready to eat takeaway meals, negative implications for diet and health are expected.2 The link between housing condition and food practices is likely to disproportionately impact those with a lower socioeconomic status (SES), especially in urban areas. Lower SES families often live in smaller sized and lower quality housing (with lower quality kitchens) due to housing affordability. Many diet-related diseases are more often observed amongst those with a lower SES and housing condition may further amplify these disparities.3 Additionally, the potential loss of food skills has major implications for children and adolescents in the household as they miss out on the opportunity to learn these skills prior to living independently. Finally, the avoidance of purchasing fresh foods for preparation of meals at home has consequences for local fresh food retailers. A lack of demand can lead to local food environments where fresh food retailers are replaced by takeaway vendors. This project aims to understand the interrelations between housing type, kitchen conditions, and local food environments to identify opportunities within the food and retail industry to help facilitate healthier food practices, especially amongst those with a lower SES.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Thornton Lukar
• Fellow: Estandarte Allan

Research team(s)

• Marketing

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Numerous tags and labels try to convince customers in the supermarket to choose their product. This is called 'nudging'. Although food labels are all over the place, little is known about the nudging effect of food labels on buying behavior. This project builds on insights from behavioral economics to tackle some of the gaps in nudging literature and add to a better understanding of the nudging effect of front-of-pack food labels. We will study who is most influenced by a FOP-label and whether there is a product-label interaction. We will study the effect of 2 external factors that might influence the nudging of a FOP-label, viz. time-pressure and pricing. Finally, we will conduct an experiment in a real-life setting and study whether all results are persistent in the complex environment of a supermarket, with all external competitive factors influencing buying behavior. We will study whether the food label nudging effect lasts over time and whether it can be influenced by an informational campaign. This project is innovative in its methodology and experimental set-up, resulting in high internal and external validity and little observational bias. It is innovative in its subject, contributing to Flanders' transition area Food 2025 in subareas Food and Health and Optimal Interaction within the Chain and with Consumers. Additionally, it provides a methodology which can be used in future studies to maximize the nudging effect of food labels in public health policy.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Dens Nathalie
• Co-promoter: Thornton Lukar
• Fellow: Godden Elke

Research team(s)

• Marketing

Project type(s)

• Research Project