The main causes of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) include consumption of unhealthy commodities such as tobacco, alcohol or foods high in fat, salt and/or sugar. These exposures are preventable, but the commodities involved are highly profitable.
Their consumption and health and social impacts are also inequitable and driven by complex systems of production, distribution and promotion dominated by transnational companies. The economic interests of such companies often conflict with health goals and their role in determining health has received insufficient attention.
SPECTRUM will generate new evidence to inform the prevention of NCDs caused by unhealthy commodities and to transform policy and practice to encourage the adoption of healthy environments and behaviours. With a principal focus on tobacco and alcohol, our research extends to food in key studies. Approaches we develop in future could be applied to other commodities.
We are conducting research in eight integrated work packages.