Road map towards a harmonized pan-European surveillance of obesity-related lifestyle behaviours and their determinants in children and adolescents

Antje Hebestreit, Barbara Thumann, Maike Wolters, Jens Bucksch, Inge Huybrechts, Joanna Inchley, Cornelia Lange, Nanna Lien, Kristin Manz, Nadia Slimani, Hidde P. van der Ploeg, Wolfgang Ahrens

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objectives

To develop a road map towards a harmonized pan-European surveillance system for children and adolescents.

Methods

Representatives of five European surveillance systems and the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents contributed to the road map through a structured workshop in 2016.

Results

A conceptual framework for this road map was developed with seven action points (APs) guiding the successive cross-country harmonization. First, key indicators of health behaviour and their determinants in children and adolescents will be identified (AP1, 2); short screening instruments will be developed and implemented to assess and monitor key indicators (AP3, 4). In parallel, optional supplementary modules could be implemented to provide objective data (AP5). This would allow mutual calibration and improvement of existing instruments before their progressive replacement by more comparable measurement tools (AP6). The establishment of a competence platform is envisaged for guiding the harmonization process (AP7).

Conclusions

This approach builds on existing systems, provides comparable key health indicators across European regions, helps to assess temporal trends and—once in place—will facilitate health reporting and monitoring of national and international health targets.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)615-623
Number of pages9
JournalInternational Journal of Public Health
Volume64
Issue number4
Early online date19 Mar 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2019

Keywords

  • Surveillance
  • Policy evaluation
  • Health
  • Diet
  • Physical activity
  • Sedentary behaviour

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Road map towards a harmonized pan-European surveillance of obesity-related lifestyle behaviours and their determinants in children and adolescents'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this