Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders (STRIPED)
Our initiative is a public health incubator, designed to cultivate novel insights and strategies for prevention. We introduce trainees to a rich array of disciplinary perspectives, methodologies, and theories and provide them with opportunities to join crosscutting collaborative teams.
Global Policy Scan
STRIPED recently completed a global policy scan examining how federal governments around the world regulate dietary supplements marketed for weight loss. The project resulted in the development of a comprehensive database and the publication of two peer-reviewed papers. Findings revealed that, despite known health risks, these products remain loosely regulated in many countries. In most cases, they are widely available without significant oversight, and their safety is not thoroughly assessed prior to reaching the market. To build on this work and address language and data gaps, STRIPED launched an international survey targeting regulators, industry leaders, and academics. The global policy scan offered a comparative tool to support advocacy for stronger regulations of weight-loss supplements.
We would like to thank STRIPED Visiting Scholar Sarith Felber for her insightful contributions to the conceptualization of this pilot study.
Research Publications
Santoso M, Okoya FT, Azar Atallah M, Raffoul A, Karjawally M, Austin SB. Underregulated weight-loss supplements threaten consumer safety globally: A call to action. International Journal of Global Health. 2024;7(1) (Manuscript).
Okoya FT*, Santoso M*, Raffoul A, Atallah MA, Austin SB. Weak regulations threaten the safety of consumers from harmful weight-loss supplements globally: Results from a pilot global policy scan. Public Health Nutrition. 2023;26(9):1917-1924. (Abstract). *Joint first authors. This paper reports the results of a study led by STRIPED trainee Funmbi Okoya and co-authored with Visiting Scholar Maya Azar Atallah.