The concept of Cochrane’s new Thematic Groups was developed at a grass roots level by the Cochrane community in 2021. Throughout a year-long consultation process, the community shared the goal of giving Cochrane’s content and methods experts a central place in our new production model. Last month, Cochrane announced the first seven of 20 new Thematic Groups designed to fulfil this key role.

‘Thematic Groups will provide vital subject knowledge and practical know-how to internal and external stakeholders, including guideline developers, government agencies, policy makers and disease associations,’ says Cochrane’s Editor in Chief, Karla Soares Weiser. ‘They’ll also ensure that our new Cochrane Evidence Synthesis Units and the Central Editorial Service have access to the right topic expertise that maps to key global challenges.’

In the second of a series on our new Thematic Groups, Luke Wolfenden shares the aims and ambitions of Cochrane Nutrition and Physical Health.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) represent one of our most complex and critical global challenges in terms of both health and equity. According to the WHO, NCDs like cancer, diabetes, heart and lung disease are responsible for 78% of all deaths globally – that’s over 41 million deaths each year. These diseases and the risk factors that cause them disproportionately affect people in low- and middle-income countries, where more than 31 million or three quarters of these deaths occur. In higher income settings, NCDs disproportionately affect lower income and socially marginalised populations. And in all corners of the world, the health, social and economic costs of this disease burden continue to climb.

Launched just last month, Cochrane’s new Nutrition and Physical Activity Thematic Group is setting to work on better understanding and addressing two of the key risk factors associated with these diseases, to deliver improved health and equity for all.

Led by Cochrane Public Health’s Luke Wolfenden (Australia), and Cochrane Nutrition’s Celeste Naude and Solange Durão (South Africa), the new group draws together a wealth of experience and expertise in systematic reviews, methods and knowledge translation across public health, nutrition, physical activity and obesity. The groups that are partnering to establish the group include: Cochrane Public Health and the University of Newcastle, Australia; Cochrane Germany and the Institute for Evidence in Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany; Cochrane Nutrition and the Centre for Evidence-based Health Care, Stellenbosch University; Cochrane South Africa and the South African Medical Research Council; and the Campbell Collaboration’s Nutrition and Food Security sub-group.

‘The Thematic Group application process was a really unique opportunity to bring together an incredible group of people with complimentary expertise, proven track records of working well together and networks that reach across the globe,’ Luke explains. ‘It’s helped us to make the most of synergies that already exist – as previously we didn’t have the structure that enabled us to capitalise on them. I think we’re all realistic about the challenges that lie ahead in terms of setting our scope, but that said I’m also excited about the team we’ve pulled together and optimistic about the impact we can have on global health.’

‘We know that suboptimal diet and physical inactivity are two of the major modifiable risk factors and contributors to NCDs and the global disease burden overall. Over 25% of the world’s adult population are insufficiently active and obesity continues to rise, especially in high-income countries. And as evidence from Cochrane Public Health consistently shows, physical inactivity has a negative impact not just on individuals, but also on health systems, the environment, economic development, community well-being and quality of life for all.’

‘Similarly, nutrition is a key modifiable risk factor for NCDs and is also inextricably linked to most other dominant health burdens. This is evident when you look across the range of conditions in the Cochrane Global Challenges framework, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the WHO’s Burden of Disease. Improving nutrition contributes to better individual outcomes as well as more sustainable food production, stronger systems of infrastructure and health systems, and increased equity and inclusion.’

‘I think one of the main challenges for our Thematic Group will be identifying which of the many nutrition and physical activity needs there are in the community we should focus on to ensure we achieve genuine impact. I’m keen to continue the work Cochrane Public Health has done supporting the production of evidence to guide the implementation of physical activity and nutrition programs in the community. Celeste and Solange of Cochrane Nutrition will no doubt draw on their close connections with WHO in the guideline development. It’s early days, but we’re looking forward to our first meeting and initial discussions about the opportunities ahead.’

Cochrane Nutrition and Physical Activity will be building on an established evidence base of highly cited Cochrane reviews on topics including: interventions to prevent child obesity; nutritional labelling to promote healthier food purchasing and consumption; and school-based programs for promoting physical activity and fitness in children and teenagers. A number of reviews that include guidance on how best to implement programs in workplaces, schools, childcare centres and sporting clubs will be updated.

In broad terms, the group also plans to provide a hub of expertise on:

interventions and strategies to improve nutrition, increase physical activity, prevent related non-communicable diseases, and reduce the global disease burden
methodologies required for effective and efficient synthesis of complex interventions
stakeholder engagement with global partners
implementation and knowledge translation.

‘Ultimately Cochrane Nutrition and Physical Activity is an aggregation of multi-disciplinary review groups, fields and partner organisations from around the world, so it represents both a broadening of scope and global collaboration, which is fantastic,’ Luke says. ‘A potential challenge for any collaborative group is to find the balance between inclusivity, collaboration, and being a high-functioning focused professional group. We very much look forward to taking up this challenge in the months and years ahead, as we focus in on some of the most complex and pressing issues in global health and equity.’

Cochrane's New Thematic Groups: Nutrition and Physical Activity