Anna Bach Faig

Food and public health

This research line aims to analyse the evolution of food patterns, such as the Mediterranean diet and its relationship to the most pressing challenges facing public health. This can be done by monitoring dietary patterns (what we eat and how we eat) and the links to health.

Dietary patterns for health and sustainability

The objectives of this research line are to study how to meet the health and sustainability challenges of dietary patterns.

The food system is probably responsible for 25% of global climate change. This industry is constantly evolving, adapting to the tastes, practices and preferences of consumers that change as time passes. In overall terms, the duration and methods of shopping, cooking and eating have changed drastically over time. Looking to the future, changes in our food systems will not only have to address the increase in obesity and other diet-related health conditions, but will also have to foster a more sustainable diet for global populations while seeking a healthy planet.

In this context, in addition to assessing the environmental impact of our diets and identifying more sustainable ones, we still need to address what actions and tools would encourage consumers to adopt them. This must involve identifying a system providing compatibility between the nutritional value, the environment, the affordability and the acceptable dimensions of sustainable diets.

Environments, lifestyle and public health

This research line focuses on studying the relationship between lifestyles (eating habits, physical activity, etc.), health and society in various environments (university, the workplace, urban environments, schools, etc.). The health-related behaviours of the university community are of particular interest for assessing its state of health, developing and implementing health promotion initiatives and interventions, and assessing the effectiveness of those interventions. The UOC is part of the Catalan Network of Healthy Universities (USCAT), and is committed to carrying out community research in public health. Higher education institutions have long been concerned with improving the health, well-being and quality of life of their students and staff.