Chair for Public Health and Health Services Research
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Public Health Nutrition

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Diese Seite auf Deutsch.

Malnutrition in all its forms – including undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, unhealthy diets, overnutrition and obesity – is responsible for a fifth of the burden of disease, and a fifth of all premature deaths world-wide. At the same time, the global food system is responsible for a third of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, and is the leading cause of biodiversity and habitat loss, land degradation, deforestation and the depletion of freshwater resources.

The Public Health Nutrtition Team works to address these challenges through research, teaching, science communication and policy outreach. Our main focus is on policies to support healthy and sustainable diets on a population level. In our research, we use a broad spectrum of methods, including qualitative, mixed-methods and quasi-experimental approaches. Besides, we produce evidence syntheses, including systematic reviews, scoping reviews and public health guidelines. We work closely with policy and practice stakeholders to ensure the relevance and impact of our work.

Team lead: Anna Leibinger & Carmen Klinger

Former team lead: Prof. Peter von Philipsborn

Current projects

  • BETRUE - From Beef to bean: the potential of ‘true pricing’ as an instrument for systemic change in the transition to plant-based alternatives (BMFTR, 2026-2029)
  • FOOD-FRAMES - A system approach to reform the food information environment to support healthy, sustainable diets: mitigating harmful marketing and misinformation (BMLEH, 2026-2029)
  • YAHEE - Young Adults in Health-Enhancing Equitable Environments (ERA4Health/BMBF, 2024-2027, project website)
  • FoodPlanetH - Food Environments for Planetary Health (BMBF-Junior Research Group, 2022-2027, project website)

Past projects

  • FoodSAMSA - Food environments in Africa: Addressing Malnutrition using a Syndemics Approach (BMEL, 2021-2024, project website)
  • Evidence- and consensus-based guideline on obesity prevention and management (German Obesity Society, 2021-2025, details in German)
  • Mensa Plus – Gesund, nachhaltig, partizipativ (BMBF, 2023-2024)
  • PEN - Policy Evaluation Network for Policies affecting Dietary and Physical Activity (2019-2022, project website)

Current team members

Name Title Position E-mail
Anna Leibinger M.Sc., M.A. PhD Candidate, Research Associate, Team Lead anna.leibinger@ibe.med.uni-muenchen.de
Annika Hagge B.Sc., cand. med. Doctoral Candidate, Research Assistant annika.hagge@ibe.med.uni-muenchen.de
Carmen Klinger M.Sc. PhD Candidate, Research Associate, Team Lead

cklinger@ibe.med.uni-muenchen.de

 
Eva Rehfuess Univ. Prof. Dr. BA MA(Oxon) PhD Chair rehfuess@ibe.med.uni-muenchen.de
Isabell Agne B.Sc. Intern isabell.agne@campus.lmu.de
Johannes Donaubauer M.Sc., cand. med. Doctoral Candidate, Research Associate johannes.donaubauer@ibe.med.uni-muenchen.de
Laura Klein B.Sc. Intern laura.klein@campus.lmu.de
Nicole Holliday M.Sc. PhD Candidate, Research Associate nicole.holliday@ibe.med.uni-muenchen.de
Peter von Philipsborn Prof, MD, M.Sc., M.A. Former Team Lead, Visiting Researcher peter.philipsborn@uni-bayreuth.de
Simone Pröbstl M.Sc. Research Associate simone.proebstl@ibe.med.uni-muenchen.de
Theresa Mareis cand. med. Doctoral Candidate theresa.mareis@tum.de

Former team members

Publications

List of publications on PubMed | Complete list of publications as pdf

Selected journal articles

  • Leibinger A, Huizinga O, Emmert-Fees K, Pedron S, Laxy M, Rehfuess E, Burns J, von Philipsborn P. The impact of tiered soft drink taxes in Europe on mean sales-weighted sugar content of soft drinks: a quasi-experimental study. BMC Public Health 2025. (Online, open access)
  • Holliday N, Delobelle P, Klinger C, Mchiza Z, Alaba O, Vandevijvere S, von Philipsborn P, Geffert K. Policy implementation and recommendations to address the double burden of malnutrition in South Africa: expert assessment using the expanded Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI). BMC Medicine 2025. (Online, open access)
  • Kratzer S, Theurich MA, Mareis T, Proebstl S, Holliday N, Yan S, Leibinger A, Monsef I, Bach L, Rincón Camargo D, Schwingshackl L, Simonetti A, Hartmann M, Lemken D, von Philipsborn P. Promoting healthy and sustainable diets through food service interventions in university settings: a scoping review. BMC Nutrition 2025. (Online, open access)
  • Holliday N, Muhali MK, Lembani M, Nonkeneza H, Feni M, Mchiza ZJ, Hill J, Klinger C, Rehfuess EA, von Philipsborn P, Delobelle P. Drivers and levers of the double burden of malnutrition in Cape Town, South Africa: insights from in-depth interviews with multi-sectoral stakeholders. BMC Public Health 2025. (Online, opcen access)
  • Leibinger A, Holliday N, Huizinga O, Klinger C, Okanmelu EC, Geffert K, Rehfuess EA, von Philipsborn P: Reach and public health implications of proposed new food marketing regulation in Germany: an updated analysis. European Journal of Public Health 2024. (Online, open access)
  • von Philipsborn P, Huizinga O, Leibinger A, Rubin D, Burns J, Emmert-Fees K, Pedron S, Laxy M, Rehfuess E.: Interim Evaluation of Germany’s Sugar Reduction Strategy for Soft Drinks: Commitments versus Actual Trends in Sugar Content and Sugar Sales from Soft Drinks. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism 2023. (Online, open access)
  • von Philipsborn P, Geffert K, Klinger C, Hebestreit A, Stratil J, Rehfuess E. Nutrition Policies in Germany: A Systematic Assessment with the Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI). Public Health Nutrition 2021. (Online, open access)
  • von Philipsborn P, Stratil JM, Burns J, Busert LK, Pfadenhauer LM, Polus S, Holzapfel C, Hauner H, Rehfuess E. Environmental interventions to reduce the consumption of sugar‐sweetened beverages and their effects on health. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2019, Issue 6. Art. No.: CD012292. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD012292.pub2. (Online, open access)

Current Study Protocols

  • Mareis T, Leibinger A, Camargo Rincón D, Donaubauer J, Monsef I, Rehfuess E, von Philipsborn P: The food environment of schools and pre-schools in Germany: protocol for a systematic scoping review and bibliographical network analysis. Open Science Framework (OSF) 2025.
  • Seyfarth E, Klinger C, von Philipsborn P: International benchmarking of policies for the prevention of non-communicable diseases: A Scoping Review protocol. Open Science Framework (OSF) 2025. (Online, open access)
  • Schmitz JM, Oppert JM, von Philipsborn P, Cardon G, Rehfuess E: Environments to Promote Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Behaviours: Protocol for the Staged Development of a System-Based Logic Model. Open Science Framework (OSF) 2025. (Online, open access)
  • Sell K, von Philipsborn P, Vandevijvere S, Schmitz JM, Cardon G, Klinger C, Goedons B, Anton N, Rehfuess E: Strategies for the adoption of policies for healthy food and physical activity environments: Protocol for a systematic review and best-fit framework synthesis. Open Science Framework (OSF) 2025. (Online, open access)
  • Klinger C, Okanmelu E, Nkuruziza M, von Philipsborn P, Mchiza Z, Alaba O, Rehfuess E, Delobelle P: Assessing and benchmarking the voluntary policies and commitments of the formal food industry in South Africa using the BIA-DBM framework. Open Science Framework (OSF) 2024. (Online, open access)
  • Klinger C, Rehfuess EA, Delobelle P, Theurich M, Holliday N, Okanmelu E, Gedrich K, Alaba O, von Philipsborn P: Adaptation of the INFORMAS BIA-Obesity framework for countries facing a double burden of malnutrition: a Delphi study protocol. Open Science Framework (OSF) 2024. (Online, open access)
  • Wiebke F, von Philipsborn P, Buyken A: Adaptation and Validation of the Food Environment Policy Index for the German State (“Länder”) Level: An Iterative Policy Analysis with Expert Consultations. Open Science Framework (OSF) 2024. (Online, open access)
  • Moerschel K, Leibinger A, Hagge A, Serong J, Stiller S, Fesenfeld L, Hawkins B, von Philipsborn P: The German media debate on taxing animal-based foods: a qualitative framing analysis. Open Science Framework (OSF) 2023. (Online, open access)
  • Holliday N, Klinger C, Lembani M, Kroll F, Pitt S, von Philipsborn P, Rehfuess E, Delobelle P: Drivers and Levers of the Double Burden of Malnutrition in South Africa: Protocol for a Complex Systems Mapping Exercise. Open Science Framework (OSF) 2023. (Online, open access)

Teaching

Science Communication

  • Karriere-Podcast der Early Career Scientists der DGE (26.06.2025): Promotion mit Carmen Klinger (Online)
  • ARD alpha (10.07.2024): Gesunde Ernährung – gut für Mensch und Natur (Online)
  • ARD Inforadio (27.06.2024): Gesünder essen per Gesetz - Fürsorge oder Bevormundung? (Online)
  • Süddeutsche Zeitung (02.04.2024): Ernährung: Wie viel Steak ist zu viel? (Online, €)
  • tagesschau.de (05.03.2024): Ernährungsempfehlungen der DGE: Mehr Nüsse - weniger Fleisch (Online)
  • Stuttgarter Zeitung (01.02.2024): Flüge, Autos, tierische Lebensmittel Ist eine Belohnung für Klimasünden noch zeitgemäß? (Online, €)
  • ZEIT Online (22.11.2023): Zuckersteuer: "Es ließen sich 160.000 Lebensjahre gewinnen" (Online)
  • RiffReporter (07.10.2023): Lauterbachs Präventionspläne: „Das Robert Koch-Institut wird de facto zerschlagen“ (Online, €)
  • Tagesspiegel (26.09.2023): Einmal süß, immer süß: Wie Zucker in der Kindheit der Gesundheit dauerhaft schadet (Online, €)
  • ZEIT ONLINE (27.04.2023): Lieber beschweren, als Zucker reduzieren (Online)
  • tagesschau.de (21.02.2023): Zuckergehalt in Softdrinks sinkt kaum (Online)

Further media reports on research by the Public Health Nutrition Team, as well as interviews, blog posts, podcasts and commentary by team members can be found here.

Newsletter

For updates on our work, you are cordially invited to subscribe to the Public Health Nutrition Listserv (in German).

Contact

Anna Leibinger
Team Lead Public Health Nutrition
Chair of Public Health and Health Services Research
Pettenkofer School of Public Health
Elisabeth-Winterhalter-Weg 6, 81377 Munich
Germany
Email: anna.leibinger@ibe.med.uni-muenchen.de

Carmen Klinger
Team Lead Public Health Nutrition
Chair of Public Health and Health Services Research
Pettenkofer School of Public Health
Elisabeth-Winterhalter-Weg 6, 81377 Munich
Germany
Email: cklinger@ibe.med.uni-muenchen.de

Last updated on November 16th, 2025