Co-production is increasingly promoted within public health and health services research as a way of working that enables greater equality and inclusivity, and that results in research that is more relevant, acceptable and potentially impactful. In this case, peer researchers shared their experiences of mental health to co-produce mental health research working in partnership with SPHR academics.

COVID-19 is a global pandemic, affecting all parts of the world and all parts of society and significantly affecting the way we live and interact with each other. It has caused unprecedented costs to the NHS, public health, social care and the national economy. Everyone, from all walks of life, has been affected by the pandemic. But, as our NIHR School of Public Health Research has shown, some people have been – and will be – far more affected than others: COVID-19 is an unequal pandemic.

A lack of physical activity can affect people’s health and wellbeing, for example, it can help to explain why some people develop illnesses such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease. However, the cost of using leisure centres to be physically active may be a particular barrier for people living on low incomes.

Our food environment is described as the physical, economic, policy and socio-cultural conditions that influence the food we eat. In England, local authorities have responsibility for public health. They also play a key role in influencing what our food environments look like, as they make decisions which regulate where takeaways can trade. Our researchers have developed detailed understanding of the role of the planning system in improving the food environment through regulation of new takeaways.

Children who walk or cycle to school may have a healthier body weight than those who arrive by car. A new study followed more than 8,000 schoolchildren over a period of years. The findings showed that even using public transport instead of taking the car led to a reduction in body fat.

The SPHR project 'Optimising the alcohol reduction app, Drink Less' was a collaboration between researchers from University College London, University of Bristol, Fuse, LiLaC and colleagues at Public Health England.

The SPHR project 'Implementing evidence-based best practice criteria in sex and relationship education' within our Children, Young People and Families research programme is an excellent example of how our public health research has had local, national and international impact.

The number of women who smoke during pregnancy is higher in the North East than elsewhere in England.

In England councils decide how alcohol policy will be implemented in their local areas, which provides councils with the opportunity to tailor its approach to suit local needs. As a result, this has led to variations in how alcohol policy is put in to practice across the country. The NIIHR School for Public Health Research has funded the first piece of research to explore the impact of alcohol policies in local areas across the country on public health. The aim of the research was to assess if there was a link between a council’s approach to alcohol licensing and its impact on the community.