Who we are
Cities for Better Health is a global network working alongside cities, researchers and community partners to advance opportunities for healthier eating and active living in underserved communities, especially for children.
Founded in 2014 as Cities Changing Diabetes*, we became Cities for Better Health in 2024 as we expanded our focus to chronic disease prevention in cities. The programme is owned by Novo Nordisk.
*Cities Changing Diabetes was founded as a public–private partnership between University College London, Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen and Novo Nordisk.
Why cities matter
By 2050, nearly seven out of 10 people will call a city home.1
Where we live shapes many of our opportunities for better health, from the availability of healthy food to the safe spaces needed to be physically active.
Yet healthy choices are not equally accessible to everyone. Across cities, access to healthy food and safe places to be active can vary greatly from one neighbourhood to the next.
These everyday differences are shaping the future of health in cities around the world.
Our ambition
Every child should have the opportunity to grow up healthy, regardless of where they live.
We work with cities and local partners to make healthy living part of everyday life — creating safer streets for walking and cycling, and making nutritious food easier and more accessible in public spaces where children can play, move and grow.
- World Bank. Urban Development. Accessed March, 2024. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/urbandevelopment/overview
