Research summary
Around the world, poor diet and nutrition increase the risk of various diseases—and although we may not realize it, a number of environmental influences and policies drive our food choices. For example, food availability, costs, marketing, labelling and delivery—as well as health literacy—can affect the choices that people in different communities make.
As Canada Research Chair in Promoting Healthy Populations, Dr. Catherine Mah is trying to deepen our understanding of the environmental and policy factors behind how we eat in order to improve health at the population level. She and her research team are focusing on the role the consumer food environment plays in food access and affordability. They are also using this evidence to mobilize support for policies that aim to reduce and prevent diet-related health risks. Ultimately, their research could lead to changes that make for healthier populations.