Catherine Mah

Dr. Catherine Mah

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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

19Years (2008-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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3 December 2019 in Current Nutrition Reports
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
CMCatherine Mah
Catherine Mah
GLGabriella Luongo
Gabriella Luongo
RHRebecca Hasdell
Rebecca Hasdell
NTNathan G. A. Taylor
Nathan G. A. Taylor
BLBrian Lo
Brian Lo
Purpose of Review: Update the state of evidence on the effectiveness of retail food environment interventions in influencing diet and explore the underlying role of public policy, through a systematic review of population-level interventions to promote health in the retail food environment, including community and consumer environments. Diet-related outcomes included purchasing, dietary intakes, diet quality, and health including weight. We coded studies for enabling public policy levers underpinning the intervention, using two widely used conceptual frameworks.Recent Findings: Of 86 articles (1974–2018), the majority (58 articles, 67%) showed at least one positive effect on diet. Thirteen articles (15%) discussed natural experiments, 27 articles (31%) used a design involving comparison groups including 23 articles (27%) specifically describing randomized controlled trials, and 46 (53%) were quasi-experimental (cross-sectional) evaluations. Across the “4Ps” of marketing (product, promotion, placement, and price), promotion comprised the greatest proportion of intervention strategies, especially in earlier literature (pre-2008). Few studies combined geographic access interventions with 4P strategies, and few used robust dietary intake assessments. Behavior change communication remains an intervention mainstay, but recent work has also incorporated environmental and social planning, and fiscal strategies. More recent interventions were multi-component.Summary: The retail food environment intervention literature continues to grow and has become more robust overall, with clearer evidence of the effect of interventions on diet-related outcomes, including consumer purchasing, dietary intakes, and health. There is still much scope for development in the field. Attention to enabling public policy could help to strengthen intervention implementation and evaluation in the retail food environment.

28 August 2013 in Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
AFAlix Freiler
Alix Freiler
CMCarles Muntaner
Carles Muntaner
KSKetan Shankardass
Ketan Shankardass
CMCatherine Mah
Catherine Mah
AMAgnes Molnar
Agnes Molnar
POPatricia O'CAmpo
Patricia O'CAmpo
Health in All Policies (HiAP) is becoming increasingly popular as a governmental strategy to improve population health by coordinating action across health and non-health sectors. A variety of intersectoral initiatives may be used in HiAP that frame health determinants as the bridge between policies and health outcomes. The purpose of this glossary is to present concepts and terms useful in understanding the implementation of HiAP as a cross-sectoral policy. The concepts presented here were applied and elaborated over the course of case studies of HiAP in multiple jurisdictions, which used key informant interviews and the systematic review of literature to study the implementation of specific HiAP initiatives.

1 January 2016 in Canadian Journal of Public Health
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
LMLeia M. Minaker
Leia M. Minaker
ASAlanna Shuh
Alanna Shuh
DODana Lee Olstad
Dana Lee Olstad
RERachel Engler-Stringer
Rachel Engler-Stringer
JBJennifer L. Black
Jennifer L. Black
CMCatherine Mah
Catherine Mah

17 December 2015 in Agriculture and Human Values
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
M Lynn McIntyre
Lynn McIntyre
DTDanielle Tougas
Danielle Tougas
KRKrista Rondeau
Krista Rondeau
CMCatherine Mah
Catherine Mah

8 August 2019 in Obesity Reviews
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
MBMiranda R Blake
Miranda R Blake
KBKathryn Backholer
Kathryn Backholer
ELEmily Lancsar
Emily Lancsar
TBTara Boelsen‐Robinson
Tara Boelsen‐Robinson
CMCatherine Mah
Catherine Mah
APAnna Peeters
Anna Peeters

1 February 2013 in International Planning Studies
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
CMCatherine Mah
Catherine Mah
HTHelen Thang
Helen Thang
This paper shares an exploratory case study of the development of the Toronto Food Strategy as an urban food strategy, through the lens of public health. It asks: what is a food strategy and how does it work? We will answer these questions through an analysis and discussion of the Food Strategy development process and attention to three key mechanisms: (1) framing or directing attention to the diverse policy instruments that deal with food, (2) brokering working relationships between diverse stakeholders and across existing governance arrangements, and (3) leveraging existing resources. We also distinguish the work of the Food Strategy from the role of food policy councils in how they cultivate deliberative spaces to catalyse policy change.