The rise of ultra-processed foods in Africa isn’t just a trend – it’s a health crisis in the making. As more people cast aside fruits, vegetables, and legumes for refined carbohydrates, added sweeteners, and edible oils, Africa is seeing a spike in adverse health outcomes. Our expert panel explores how policymakers, regulators, manufacturers, civil society, and the public can collaborate to address this dietary shift.
Panelists:
Dr. Osei-Kwasi, a Public Health Nutrition academic, holds a BSc in Community Nutrition from the University for Development Studies, Ghana, a Masters in Nutrition and Rural Development from Ghent University, Belgium, and a PhD in Public Health Nutrition from the University of Sheffield. She previously worked at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research and joined Loughborough University in 2022 as a lecturer. Currently an International Special Envoy to Sub-Saharan Africa, her research focuses on global health, nutrition, and dietary behaviour interventions for African and Caribbean populations.
Prof. Barry M. Popkin is the W. R. Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor of Nutrition at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. He holds a doctorate in agricultural economics from Cornell University. He established the Division of Nutrition Epidemiology at UNC and later established and led the UNC Interdisciplinary Obesity Center, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He developed the concept of the Nutrition Transition, the study of the dynamic shifts in dietary intake and physical activity patterns and trends around obesity and other nutrition-related noncommunicable diseases (NCD). His research program focuses globally (both in the U.S. and in low- and middle-income countries) on understanding the stages of transition and is currently focused on working with the impact of programs and policies meant to improve the health of the population during their time of transition.
Dr. Bragg utilizes psychology and public health research methods to study food policy and obesity, and her research advocates for changes in US food policy and population-level solutions – not only individual behavior change. Her research has examined the impact of racially targeted food and beverage marketing on adolescents; catalogued the food and beverage industry’s use of music celebrity and professional athlete endorsements in promoting unhealthy products; evaluated various marketing techniques used on packaged foods in supermarkets and outdoor advertisements; and assessed how labeling and intrapersonal and social factors influence food and beverage preferences. Her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the NYC Department of Health, and has resulted in numerous peer-reviewed articles.
Dr. Richard Ayah is a leading expert in public health and health systems, known for his extensive research and impactful contributions to healthcare policy and management. With a PhD in Public Health from the University of Nairobi and an MSc from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Dr. Ayah combines a robust academic background with practical experience to address critical public health challenges. Dr. Ayah’s dedication to improving health outcomes in Africa is reflected in his leadership roles, including serving on advisory boards for various health initiatives and contributing to national and regional health strategies.