Interventions for healthy lifestyles of children and adolescents: Participatory research engaging groups from low socioeconomic areas

Unhealthy lifestyles, such as unhealthy eating or a lack of physical activity, contribute to overweight and obesity in children and adolescents, a growing public health concern. Young people in neighbourhoods with a low socioeconomic status (SES) are particularly at risk. This thesis therefore not only examines (the determinants of) health and lifestyle behaviour of European adolescents, but also how participatory research can contribute to more effective lifestyle interventions that better reflect the lives of these young people.
The research in this thesis shows that adolescents do not eat fruit and vegetables daily, and that there are differences in eating behaviour based on SES, age and sex. Furthermore, young people and stakeholders, such as schools, local organisations, and governments, identify several barriers that limit schools to be healthy environments. Collaboration between these stakeholders is essential to create change. Although participatory methods yield promising and feasible ideas, the effectiveness of this approach remains inconclusive. Future research is needed to strengthen the impact of participatory interventions to improve healthy lifestyles of children and adolescents.