Stefanie Vandevijvere

Belgian living in Gent, Belgium

I am a senior public health nutrition scientist and my research focuses on nutrition policies for obesity and chronic disease prevention locally, nationally and globally. My work aims to support the development and implementation of policies to effectively and equitably improve the quality of population diets. In particular I have an interest in the role of food environments in determining people’s dietary habits and how to hold governments and food businesses to account for their actions to create healthy food environments to effectively reduce obesity.

I am committed to making a difference for both human as well as planetary health. My background in public health equips me with a deep understanding of
health issues and the ability to advocate for policies that promote well-being. I like to think about health challenges within the context of larger systems, considering social, economic, and environmental factors. This systems thinking approach is essential for understanding and addressing the interconnected issues central to Homeward Bound’s mission. I hold a PhD from the Université Libre de Bruxelles (2012). I have more than 230 peer reviewed publications.