PANDA Programme

Description

Physical Activity and Nutrition Determinants in Asia (PANDA) is one of the interdisciplinary research programmes of the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health.

The goal of this programme is to better understand and promote physical activity and nutrition behaviors in an urban Asian setting. An important focus is the interplay between individuals and their environment and the use of mobile technology to continually monitor lifestyle behaviors and their determinants. Insights from this research will be used to develop and implement novel interventions to prevent obesity and chronic diseases in the Singapore population. The programme is co-led by Assistant Professor Falk Müller-Riemenschneider and Associate Professor Rob M. van Dam and includes researchers with expertise in behavioral sciences, epidemiology, nutrition and physical activity assessment, and data analytics.

The programme comprises of three interlinked research areas, which build on each other. These key research areas are:

  1. Study of the physical, socio-cultural, political and economic environmental factors that influence food choice and physical activity. Click here for more information.
  2. Evaluate how the interaction between individuals and their environment affect their diet and activity patterns in real-life using mobile technology and ecological momentary assessment methodology. The adaptation and scientific evaluation of assessment strategies for diet and physical activity is a part of this research area. Click here for more information.
  3. Develop and evaluate dynamically tailored real-time interventions in education and work settings. This will include the use of a combination of technology-based real-time interventions and environmental changes. Click here for more information.

For more information on the ongoing projects, please use the menu to navigate the respective areas.

 

This programme is supported by: