The overall objective of this project is to develop an analytical model to assess the determinants of social and gender inequalities (SGI) in overweight and obesity (O/O) in the Iberia-Latin American cities over a recent time period, and to inform urban policies by integrating interdisciplinary, intersectional and intersectoral approaches. 

More than half of the worldwide population (55%) is overweight or obese (O/O), while the increasing trends are leading to shorten life expectancy. Innovative actions to tackle O/O are urgently needed: no country has so far succeeded in reducing its growth. Other two growing issues parallel this big concern: social inequalities and urbanisation. Approximately 55% of the world’s population lives in urban areas and inequalities in health are considered as one of the great epidemics in the 21st century. Research has demonstrated that more unequal societies have more unequal health, and that O/O are less common in more equal societies. Moreover, O/O and social inequalities worsen with urbanization. However, it is still unclear what the main drivers of this intertwined SGI in O/O within urban contexts. 

O/O are related to several axes of social inequality, such as socioeconomic status, gender, ethnicity, age, and place of residence. O/O are more frequent in more unequal societies and increase with urbanisation. The highly urbanised Iberia-Latin American region has strong historical, political, economic and cultural bonds. However, this region has also considerable heterogeneity in the degree of SGI, urbanisation, and in the prevalence of O/O. Thus, this transnational scenario holds great potential for the analysis of the urban SGI in O/O. 

To develop this project, a mixed methods study design will be applied, with a cross-sectional multi-city study followed by a public policy analysis. Additionally, recommendations for polices and interventions to address SGI in O/O will be developed. A gender perspective will be adopted throughout all the action. The novel integration of these approaches will contribute to tackling urban SGI in O/O by providing a more comprehensive understanding of its drivers and by finding new avenues for improving equity-based urban policies. The project will also provide insights to reshape O/O as a systemic problem worldwide. The project is supported by an individual fellowship (European fellowship) of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, and include institutions such as Pompeu Fabra University, Food Justice (non-governmental organization) and National University of Córdoba (Argentina).  This EU-funded project will have a key impact on relevant target audiences (researchers, practitioners, policy makers) as well as on the wider community.