Congratulations to Dr Meelan Thondoo, a senior research associate with the MRC Epidemiology Unit and GDAR, who was awarded a prestigious fellowship at the Australian National University. The Planetary Health Equity Future Leaders Program 2024 focuses on cutting-edge research in the field of consumptogenic systems and their effects on planetary health.
A medical anthropologist and environmental epidemiologist, Meelan works in the global health arena, with her research interests focusing on city-level health impact assessments (HIA) and multi-sectoral interventions and integrated policies for health.
We spoke to Meelan about her research and what it means to have been selected for the Planetary Health Equity Future Leaders Program 2024.
What prompted your interest in urban health, and what makes this area of research special?
My interest in urban health emerged from witnessing firsthand the profound impact that urban environments have on people’s health and well-being, particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions of the Global South. Working across diverse geographies—Europe, Africa, and Asia—I’ve observed how urbanization brings both opportunities and challenges. Cities concentrate resources and innovation but also exacerbate health inequities, environmental degradation, and social inequalities. Urban health research is special because it requires a multidisciplinary approach, integrating public health, urban planning, and environmental science, to design interventions that promote healthier, more equitable, and resilient cities.
What is your own research about?
My research focuses on the intersection of climate change, urbanization, and public health, particularly in the context of rapidly growing cities in the Global South. I work on projects that co-design and implement interventions to promote healthy eating, physical activity, and overall well-being among children and adolescents in urban environments. I also work on Health Impact Assessments (HIA) that inform policy at various stages of development, aiming to integrate health considerations into broader urban planning and development strategies.
What are the most interesting/important things you’ve discovered?
One of the most important insights from my research is the critical role of stakeholder engagement and participatory approaches in designing effective health interventions. I’ve found that co-designing with communities and diverse stakeholders not only increases the relevance and sustainability of interventions but also fosters a sense of ownership and empowerment among participants. Additionally, my work has highlighted the interconnectedness of health, environment, and socio-economic factors—an insight that has informed the holistic, systems-based approaches we now advocate for in urban health and planetary health research.
You’ve recently started an Australian National University fellowship looking at the field of consumptogenic systems and their effects on planetary health. What is a consumptogenic system, and what will your research involve?
A consumptogenic system refers to the complex web of political, economic, commercial, and social factors that drive excessive consumption, often at the expense of both human health and the environment. These systems contribute to the production and marketing of unhealthy commodities—such as ultra-processed foods, tobacco, and fossil fuels—that undermine public health and planetary stability. My research during the ANU fellowship will involve analyzing these systems to identify leverage points for transformative change. I will focus on developing governance frameworks that align with planetary health equity goals, aiming to shift these consumptogenic systems toward more sustainable and equitable patterns of consumption.
How do you see this field developing in the next decade?
In the next decade, I anticipate that the field of planetary health will increasingly focus on systemic change. There will be a growing recognition that addressing global health challenges—such as non-communicable diseases, climate change, and social inequality—requires transforming the underlying systems that drive consumption and production. This will involve interdisciplinary collaboration, integrating insights from public health, environmental science, economics, and political science to design policies and interventions that promote health equity and environmental sustainability. The concept of “consumptogenic systems” will likely become central to this discourse, as researchers and policymakers seek to understand and dismantle the drivers of unsustainable and unhealthy consumption.
Thank you to thank Professor Sharon Friel and her team at the Planetary Health Equity Hothouse, and also to the School of Regulation and Global Governance at the Australian National University, for hosting us during the fellowship.
Learn more
• The Planetary Health Equity Hothouse will welcome a small group of early career researchers and PhD students to join Professor Sharon Friel’s team in Canberra in September 2024.
• The thematic focus of the 2024 Planetary Health Equity Future Leaders program is “Addressing the structural drivers of planetary health inequity”.
• Through an intensive fortnight of structured workshops and masterclasses related to theory, transdisciplinary research, and knowledge mobilisation, plus time for writing and conversations with the Hothouse team members and wider ANU community, the program offers an opportunity to develop new research skills, spark new collaborative ideas, and create new opportunities for knowledge mobilisation that aims to improve planetary health equity.
• Link for more information on the FLP 2024 – https://hothouse.anu.edu.au/event/planetary-health-equity-future-leaders-program-2024
• Link for more information on the Hothouse in general – https://hothouse.anu.edu.au/