20 years in NCD prevention

To my astonishment, it seems that today – 26 May 2025 – marks exactly 20 years since I had my very first meeting about the possibility of a job in the intimidating-sounding area of ‘non-communicable disease prevention’. My role with an organisation called the Oxford Health Alliance would be to write on tackling what were then defined by the World Health Organization as the three major risk factors*: poor diet, physical inactivity and tobacco use. It was an area I initially knew little about – but it has turned out that I have a deep and abiding passion for advocating for keeping people well.

I came at this not from a medical background, but from the perspective of having just finished a Masters in human rights. I had been intrigued by the fact that companies have no formal international human rights obligations – so how can we get them to do the right thing in situations where the profit motive runs counter to the public good, including public health? This question remains every bit as pressing today as it was two decades ago.

I have never for one moment regretted taking that first job and, although I particularly loved my time as assistant director at C3 Collaborating for Health, I have also never for one moment regretted going freelance in 2017. NCD prevention combines so many of my interests and there have been myriad highlights over the last few years involving many wonderful colleagues.

On a personal level, it undoubtedly motivated me to at least try to practise what I preach through improving my fitness. In my late 30s, I took myself in hand, losing 10kg over the course of a year. I have managed largely to keep the weight off, thanks to regular running (which I hate, though it is lovely when it stops!) and cycling, but it is an ongoing effort. Had you told me 10 years ago that I would have cycled a solo LEJOG (the length of the UK: Land's End to John O'Groats), or that I would have ridden six Caminos in Spain, or that I’d volunteer with a cricket charity in Rwanda, I wouldn't have believed you! (You can read copious blogs about my trips here.)

I haven't written a blog on this site for years now. When I first went freelance, I thought that I'd find the time and motivation to write about things that interest me, using a less formal style than for my work... but it hasn’t panned out that way. Now, however, feels like the right time to write a little about the highlights of the last few years and the challenges that we (and I) face. Perhaps this is a little self-indulgent, but if I can’t do a retrospective on my anniversary then when can I? Watch this space.

*Since upped to five, with the addition first of alcohol use and then air pollution. The diseases under the WHO’s ‘NCD’ umbrella has also extended from cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and chronic lung disease to include mental health conditions.