Addressing commercial and other determinants of health through an upstream systems perspective

Abstract This presentation will provide an introduction to the commercial determinants of health (CDOH) and the Local Health Global Profits (LHGP) research project. Drawing on the Lancet Series on the CDoH it will explore: • the system nature of the problems that drive commercial harm to human and planetary health and why taking a systems perspective, which recognises the interconnectedness and complex, non-linear relationships between parts, may be essential to understanding and addressing the CDoH; • how commercial determinants are not separate from, but closely interconnected with other social, economic and political determinants of health and why a commercial determinants approach or “lens” can help address other structural drivers of ill health; • how commercial actors can influence health and wellbeing in both positive and negative ways and hence why LHGP seeks to address the harmful impacts of commercial actors while harnessing the positives, consistent with local governments’ crucial role in shaping healthier people, places and economies. It will also introduce LHGP's research questions, structure and approach including: • the overarching research question: what are the effects of taking a systems approach to understanding and addressing the upstream (commercial) determinants of health at local level? • how this is approached through 7 interconnected work packages which each address more detailed research questions; • the multidisciplinary approach involving 5 universities, 3 civil society partners and local governments; • the systems and co-production approaches which seek to develop and implement locally relevant evidence, resources and systems of support to help advance action in this area.