Determinants of diet and physical Activity (DEDIPAC): a summary of findings

2017

The establishment of the Determinants of Diet and Physical Activity (DEDIPAC) Knowledge Hub, 2013 – 2016, was the first action taken by the ‘ Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life ’ European Joint Programming Initiative. DEDIPAC aimed to provide better insight into the determinants of diet, physical activity and sedentary behaviour across the life course, i.e. insight into the causes of the causes of important, non-commu nicable diseases across Europe and beyond. DEDIPAC was launched in late 2013, and delivered its final report in late 2016. In this paper we give an overview of what was achieved in terms of furthering measurement and monitoring, providing overviews of the state-of-the-art in the …

Agreement between parent and child report on parental practices regarding dietary, physical activity and sedentary behaviours: the ENERGY cross-secti…

2014

Background Parents and their parenting practices play an important role in shaping their children’s environment and energy-balance related behaviours (EBRBs). Measurement of parenting practices can be parent- or child-informed, however not much is known about agreement between parent and child perspectives. This study aimed to assess agreement between parent and child reports on parental practices regarding EBRBs across different countries in Europe and to identify correlates of agreement. Methods Within the ENERGY-project, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among 10–12 year old children and their parents in eight European countries. Both children and parents filled in a questionnaire o…

Large proportions of overweight and obese children, as well as their parents, underestimate children's weight status across Europe.

2015

Objective: To investigate the magnitude and country-specific differences in under- estimation of children’s weight status by children and their parents in Europe and to further explore its associations with family characteristics and sociodemographic factors. Design: Children’s weight and height were objectively measured. Parental anthro- pometric and sociodemographic data were self-reported. Children and their parents were asked to comment on children’s weight status based on five-point Likert-type scales, ranging from ‘I am much too thin’ to ‘I am much too fat’ (children) and ‘My child’s weight is way too little’ to ‘My child’s weight is way too much’ (parents). These data were combined w…

Test-retest reliability and construct validity of the ENERGY-child questionnaire on energy balance-related behaviours and their potential determinant…

2011

Published version of an article in the journal: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. Also available from the publihser:http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-8-136 BACKGROUND:Insight in children's energy balance-related behaviours (EBRBs) and their determinants is important to inform obesity prevention research. Therefore, reliable and valid tools to measure these variables in large-scale population research are needed.OBJECTIVE:To examine the test-retest reliability and construct validity of the child questionnaire used in the ENERGY-project, measuring EBRBs and their potential determinants among 10-12 year old children.METHODS:We collected data among 10-12 yea…

Test-retest reliability and construct validity of the ENERGY-parent questionnaire on parenting practices, energy balance-related behaviours and their…

2012

Published version from the journal: BMC Research Notes. Also available from BMC: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-5-434 Open Access Background: Insight in parental energy balance-related behaviours, their determinants and parenting practices are important to inform childhood obesity prevention. Therefore, reliable and valid tools to measure these variables in large-scale population research are needed. The objective of the current study was to examine the test-retest reliability and construct validity of the parent questionnaire used in the ENERGY-project, assessing parental energy balance-related behaviours, their determinants, and parenting practices among parents of 10–12 year old chi…

Associations between home- and family-related factors and fruit juice and soft drink intake among 10- to 12-year old children. The ENERGY project.

2013

The aim of this study is to investigate associations of family-related factors with children's fruit drink/juice and soft drink consumption. A cross-sectional survey among 10- to 12-year-old children and their parents in eight European countries was conducted to gather this data. Key variables of interest were children's self-reported fruit drink/juice and soft drink intake per day (outcome) and family-related factors (based on parents' report) related to these two behaviors (modeling, automaticity, availability, monitoring, permissiveness, negotiating, communicating health beliefs, avoid negative modeling, self-efficacy, rewarding, and family consumption). 7915 Children (52% girls; mean ag…

Clustering of energy balance-related behaviors and parental education in European children: the ENERGY-project

2013

Published version of an article in the journal: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. Also available from the publisher at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-10-5 Open access Background: Recent research and literature reviews show that, among schoolchildren, some specific energy balance-related behaviors (EBRBs) are relevant for overweight and obesity prevention. It is also well known that the prevalence of overweight and obesity is considerably higher among schoolchildren from lower socio-economic backgrounds. This study examines whether sugared drinks intake, physical activity, screen time and usual sleep duration cluster in reliable and meaningful ways am…

Regular family breakfast was associated with children's overweight and parental education: Results from the ENERGY cross-sectional study

2016

Introduction This study aims to assess (i) the prevalence of having regular family breakfast, lunch, dinner (i.e. 5–7 days/week together with their family) among 10–12 year olds in Europe, (ii) the association between family meals and child weight status, and (iii) potential differences in having family meals according to country of residence, gender, ethnicity and parental levels of education. Methods 7716 children (mean age: 11.5 ± 0.7 years, 52% girls) in eight European countries (Belgium, Greece, Hungary, The Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland) participated in a cross-sectional school-based survey in 2010. Data on family meals were self-reported by the parents and childre…

Television in the bedroom and increased body weight: potential explanations for their relationship among European schoolchildren

2012

Summary Aims: A television in the bedroom is associated with measures of adiposity. We aimed to test if this association is mediated by any of (i) time spent watching television, (ii) sleep duration, (iii) physical activity level or (iv) consumption of soft drinks. Method: Data were from 7234 boys and girls aged 10–12 years in European countries involved in the EuropeaN Energy balance Research to prevent excessive weight Gain among Youth project (Belgium, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia and Spain). Waist circumference, height and weight were measured. The presence of a bedroom television, television viewing time, sleep duration, physical activity time and soft drink consu…

Associations of parental education and parental physical activity (PA) with children's PA: The ENERGY cross‐sectional study

2012

OBJECTIVE The present study sought to examine the independent associations of parental education and physical activity (PA) with children's PA across Europe. METHODS A total of 7214 children (10-12 years) were recruited from a school-based cross-sectional survey during 2010 in seven European countries. Weight and height were measured. Parental educational level (PEL) and parents' and children's PA were collected using self-reported questionnaires. Multiple linear regression models were used, comparing children's PA with PEL and PA levels. RESULTS PEL was directly associated with children's PA in Greek and Spanish girls (all P < 0.01) and boys’ PA in Norway (all P < 0.05). Paternal education…

Appreciation and implementation of a school-based intervention are associated with changes in fruit and vegetable intake in 10-to 13-year old schoolc…

2008

The purpose was to investigate the degree of implementation and appreciation of a comprehensive school-randomized fruit and vegetable intervention program and to what extent these factors were associated with changes in reported fruit and vegetable intake. The study was conducted among 10- to 13-year old children exposed to the intervention during the school year 2003-04 in Norway, Spain and the Netherlands. Children, parents and teachers completed questionnaires regarding (i) the implementation of the school curriculum, (ii) parental involvement, (iii) distribution of fruit and vegetables at school, (iv) children's appreciation of the project and (v) children's intake levels. Univariate an…

Patterns of objectively measured sedentary time in 10- to 12-year-old Belgian children: an observational study within the ENERGY-project

2017

Background This study examined the frequency of and differences in sedentary bouts of different durations and the total time spent in sedentary bouts on a weekday, a weekend day, during school hours, during after-school hours and in the evening period in a sample of 10- to 12-year-old Belgian children. Methods Accelerometer data were collected as part of the ENERGY-project in Belgium (n = 577, 10.9 ± 0.7 years, 53% girls) in 2011. Differences in total sedentary time, sedentary bouts of 2–5, 5–10, 10–20, 20–30 and ≥30 min and total time accumulated in those bouts were examined on a weekday, a weekend day, during school hours, during after-school hours and in the evening period, using multile…

Predictors and mediators of differences in soft drinks consumption according to gender and plans of further education among Norwegian secondary-schoo…

2013

AbstractObjectiveTo explore mediators of gender and educational differences in sugar-sweetened soft drinks consumption (SDC) and whether gender and level of future education moderate the associations of accessibility, modelling, attitudes and preferences with SDC.DesignA cross-sectional school-based survey within the Fruits and Vegetables Makes the Marks (FVMM) project from 2005.SettingThe questionnaires were completed by the pupils in the classroom guided by a trained project worker during one class session. The questionnaire included questions on SDC (times/week), the potential mediators and moderators. Multilevel linear regression models were used to calculate the mediating and moderatin…

Energy balance related behaviour: Personal, home- and friend-related factors among schoolchildren in Europe studied in the ENERGY-project

2014

Published version of an article in the journal: PLoS One. Also available from the publisher: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0111775 Open Acces Objective: To design interventions that target energy balance-related behaviours, knowledge of primary schoolchildren’s perceptions regarding soft drink intake, fruit juice intake, breakfast consumption, TV viewing and physical activity (PA) is essential. The current study describes personal beliefs and attitudes, home- and friend-related variables regarding these behaviours across Europe. Design: Cross-sectional study in which personal, family and friend -related variables were assessed by validated questionnaires, and dichotomized as favour…

Large proportions of overweight and obese children, as well as their parents, underestimate children's weight status across Europe. The ENERGY (Europ…

2015

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the magnitude and country-specific differences in underestimation of children’s weight status by children and their parents in Europe and to further explore its associations with family characteristics and sociodemographic factors.DesignChildren’s weight and height were objectively measured. Parental anthropometric and sociodemographic data were self-reported. Children and their parents were asked to comment on children’s weight status based on five-point Likert-type scales, ranging from ‘I am much too thin’ to ‘I am much too fat’ (children) and ‘My child’s weight is way too little’ to ‘My child’s weight is way too much’ (parents). These data were combined wi…

Is the term 'Mediterranean diet' a misnomer?

2010

Published version of an article from the journal: Public Health Nutrition. Also available from Cambridge University Press: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1368980010000480 OBJECTIVE: A greater adherence to what has been labelled the Mediterranean diet is associated with a significant improvement in health status. However, it is unclear what this diet really contains. The objective of the present study is to discuss the contents of the scientific Mediterranean diet. CONCLUSIONS: We argue that the evidence of the health-enhancing properties of the Mediterranean diet is not necessarily based on Mediterranean foods, and that we indeed do not have to eat Mediterranean foods to enjoy the health-promot…

Micro-level economic factors and incentives in children's energy balance related behaviours: Findings from the ENERGY European cross-section question…

2012

Published version of an article from the journal: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. Also available from BMC: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-9-136 Open Access Background To date, most research on obesogenic environments facing school children has focused on physical and socio-cultural environments. The role of economic factors has been investigated to a much lesser extent. Our objective was to explore the association of micro-level economic factors and incentives with sports activities and intake of soft drinks and fruit juice in 10-12 year-old school children across Europe, and to explore price sensitivity in children’s soft drink consumption and corr…

Direct and indirect associations between the family physical activity environment and sports participation among 10-12 year-old European children: te…

2013

Published version of an article in th journal: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. Also available from the publisher at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-10-15 Open access Background. Sport participation makes an important contribution to children’s overall physical activity. Understanding influences on sports participation is important and the family environment is considered key, however few studies hav explored the mechanisms by which the family environment influences children’s sport participation. The purpose of this study was to examine whether attitude, perceived behavioural control, health belief and enjoyment mediate associations between the fami…

European energy balance research to prevent excessive weight gain among youth (ENERGY) project: Design and methodology of the ENERGY cross-sectional …

2011

Published version of an article from: Bmc Public Health. Also available from the publisher: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-11-65. Open Access Background: Obesity treatment is by large ineffective long term, and more emphasis on the prevention of excessive weight gain in childhood and adolescence is warranted. To inform energy balance related behaviour (EBRB) change interventions, insight in the potential personal, family and school environmental correlates of these behaviours is needed. Studies on such multilevel correlates of EBRB among schoolchildren in Europe are lacking. The ENERGY survey aims to (1) provide up-to-date prevalence rates of measured overweight, obesity, self-reported…

The association between cycling to school and being overweight in Rotterdam (The Netherlands) and Kristiansand (Norway)

2011

Active transportation is a behavior that might contribute to energy balance. However, no clear association between active commuting to school and weight status has been reported in the international literature. Also, new studies indicate that cycling to school might have a greater health potential than walking to school. The purpose of the present study is to assess the potential association between cycling to school and weight status in two European cities, Rotterdam and Kristiansand, where cycling to school remains common. Data from two studies, ENDORSE (Rotterdam) and Youth in Balance (Kristiansand), were used including, respectively, 1361 and 1197 adolescents with mean ages of 14.1 and …

Socio-demographic factors as correlates of active commuting to school in Rotterdam, the Netherlands

2008

Objective. Report frequencies of adolescents' active commuting to school in an inner city environment in the Netherlands, and to explore potential socio-demographic correlates of active commuting to school. Methods. Cross-sectional data were obtained from the ENDORSE study (2005-2006) including 1361 adolescents (response=82%), aged 12-15 from 16 schools in Rotterdam. Socio-demographic variables were assessed by questionnaire. height and weight were measured and distance to school was calculated based on route planner information. Multilevel logistic regressions were performed to analyze the data. Results. The proportions of participants categorized as walkers, cyclists, non-active commuters…

The role of family-related factors in the effects of the UP4FUN school-based family-focused intervention targeting screen time in 10- to 12-year-old …

2014

Background Screen-related behaviours are highly prevalent in schoolchildren. Considering the adverse health effects and the relation of obesity and screen time in childhood, efforts to affect screen use in children are warranted. Parents have been identified as an important influence on children’s screen time and therefore should be involved in prevention programmes. The aim was to examine the mediating role of family-related factors on the effects of the school-based family-focused UP4FUN intervention aimed at screen time in 10- to 12-year-old European children (n child–parent dyads = 1940). Methods A randomised controlled trial was conducted to test the six-week UP4FUN intervention in 10-…

The UP4FUN intervention effect on overall sedentary time and breaking up sedentary time in Belgian children (10–12 years): The ENERGY-project

2014

Introduction Within the ENERGY-project [1] , a school-based intervention to reduce and to break up sedentary time (UP4FUN) was developed for children aged 10 to 12 years. This study examined the UP4FUN intervention effect on objectively measured overall sedentary time and sedentary pattern variables among Belgian children. Sedentary pattern variables included number of breaks in sedentary time, number of sedentary bouts (≥ 10 minutes) and total and average amount of time spent in those sedentary bouts. Methods The six weeks intervention was tested in a randomized controlled trial with pre-test post-test design with five intervention and five control schools in Belgium. The total sample incl…

Evidence-based development of school-based and family-involved prevention of overweight across Europe: The ENERGY-project's design and conceptual fra…

2010

Background There is an urgent need for more carefully developed public health measures in order to curb the obesity epidemic among youth. The overall aim of the "EuropeaN Energy balance Research to prevent excessive weight Gain among Youth" (ENERGY)-project is the development and formative evaluation of a theory-informed and evidence-based multi-component school-based and family-involved intervention program ready to be implemented and evaluated for effectiveness across Europe. This program aims at promoting the adoption or continuation of health behaviors that contribute to a healthy energy balance among school-aged children. Earlier studies have indicated that school and family environmen…

Evaluation of the UP4FUN Intervention: A Cluster Randomized Trial to Reduce and Break Up Sitting Time in European 10-12-Year-Old Children

2015

Background The UP4FUN intervention is a family-involved school-based intervention aiming at reducing and breaking up sitting time at home (with special emphasis on screen time), and breaking up sitting time in school among 10–12 year olds in Europe. The purpose of the present paper was to evaluate its short term effects. Methodology/Principal Findings A total of 3147 pupils from Belgium, Germany, Greece, Hungary and Norway participated in a school-randomized controlled trial. The intervention included 1–2 school lessons per week for a period of six weeks, along with assignments for the children and their parents. Screen time and breaking up sitting time were registered by self-report and to…

Associations between family-related factors, breakfast consumption and BMI among 10- to 12-year-old European children: the cross-sectional ENERGY-stu…

2013

Objective: To investigate associations of family-related factors with children's breakfast consumption and BMI-z-score and to examine whether children's breakfast consumption mediates associations between family-related factors and children's BMI-z-score. Subjects: Ten-to twelve-year-old children (n = 6374; mean age = 11.6 +/- 0.7 years, 53.2% girls, mean BMI-z-score = 0.4 +/- 1.2) and one of their parents (n = 6374; mean age = 41.4 +/- 5.3 years, 82.7% female, mean BMI = 24.5 +/- 4.2 kg/m(2)) were recruited from schools in eight European countries (Belgium, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, and Switzerland). The children self-reported their breakfast frequency per …

Associations between eating meals, watching TV while eating meals and weight status among children, ages 10–12 years in eight European countries: the…

2012

Background To assess the association of eating meals, and never watching TV while eating meals, with weight status among children, ages 10–12 years across Europe. Methods 7915 children (mean age: 11.5 years) in eight European countries (Belgium, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland) completed a questionnaire at school. Data on meals eaten the day before questionnaire administration and the frequency of eating meals while watching TV were collected. Height and weight of the children were objectively assessed. Multinomial and binary regression analyses were conducted to test associations of eating meals (adjusted for gender and ethnicity) and never watchin…

Why do parents' education level and income affect the amount of fruits and vegetables adolescents eat?

2008

Background: There are large socioeconomic disparities in food behaviours. The objective of the present study is to longitudinally explore socioeconomic disparities in adolescents’ fruit and vegetable (FV) intake and to assess mediators of the disparity. Methods: A longitudinal study containing 896 adolescents from 20 randomly selected elementary schools within two Norwegian counties (response rate 84%). Questionnaires were administered in May 2002 (mean age 12.5 years) and again in May 2005. FV intake was measured by four food frequency questions (times/week). Socioeconomic status was based on parents’ reports of their own educational level and family income (both dichotomized). Data were a…

Parental education associations with children's body composition: Mediation effects of energy balance-related behaviors within the ENERGY-project

2013

AbstractBackgroundIt is well known that the prevalence of overweight and obesity is considerably higher among youth from lower socio-economic families, but there is little information about the role of some energy balance-related behaviors in the association between socio-economic status and childhood overweight and obesity. The objective of this paper was to assess the possible mediation role of energy balance-related behaviors in the association between parental education and children’s body composition.MethodsData were obtained from the cross sectional study of the “EuropeaN Energy balance Research to prevent excessive weight Gain among Youth” (ENERGY) project. 2121 boys and 2516 girls a…

Towards health-promoting and environmentally friendly regional diets - a Nordic example

2008

AbstractBackgroundBecause most of the top determinants of the worldwide burden of disease are diet-related, the promotion of healthful diets is important for population health across the world. Furthermore, changes in eating habits may contribute to preservation of the environment.ObjectiveIn the present paper it is argued that the translation of health-promoting dietary recommendations into practical recommendations for healthful eating should be more tailored to regional circumstances. This will promote population health as well as help preserve cultural diversity in eating habits and contribute to more environmentally friendly eating. A regional Nordic diet, mimicking the Mediterranean d…

The association of breakfast skipping and television viewing at breakfast with weight status among parents of 10-12-year-olds in eight European count…

2014

AbstractObjectiveThe main objective was to assess the relationship of breakfast skipping, television (TV) viewing at breakfast and breakfast without TV with weight status among parents of 10–12-year-olds in eight European countries.DesignA cross-sectional survey assessed breakfast eating and TV viewing at breakfast by three frequency questions and parents were categorized into: (i) breakfast skippers; (ii) breakfast with TV (TV watchers at breakfast); and (iii) breakfast without TV (breakfast eaters who do not watch TV during breakfast). Self-reported weight and height were used to categorize weight status as underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese. Multinomial logistic regression …

Actual and perceived weight status and its association with slimming and energy-balance related behaviours in 10- to 12-year-old European children: t…

2016

Both parents' and children's perception of children's weight status may be important predictors of slimming and energy-balance related behaviours, independent of children's actual weight status.; We examined the cross-sectional association of children's self-reported slimming and energy-balance related behaviours with children's (i) actual, (ii) self-perceived and (iii) parent-perceived weight status.; Data of 10- to 12-year-old European children and their parents were used. Multilevel logistic and linear regression analyses were performed, adjusting for age, gender, parental weight controlling behaviours, education, marital status and ethnicity.; Independent of their actual weight status, …

The effect of the UP4FUN pilot intervention on objectively measured sedentary time and physical activity in 10-to 12 year old children in Belgium : t…

2012

Published version of an article in the journal: BMC Public Health. Also available from BMC: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-12-805 Bakckground: The first aim was to examine the effect of the UP4FUN pilot intervention on children’s total sedentary time. The second aim was to investigate if the intervention had an effect on children’s physical activity (PA) level. Finally, we aimed to investigate demographic differences (i.e. age, gender, ethnicity, living status and having siblings) between children in the intervention group who improved in sedentary time and PA at post-test and children in the intervention group who worsened in sedentary time and PA at post-test. Methods: The six weeks …

Individual and family environmental correlates of television and computer time in 10- to 12-year-old European children: The ENERGY-project Energy bal…

2015

Background: The aim was to investigate which individual and family environmental factors are related to television and computer time separately in 10- to-12-year-old children within and across five European countries (Belgium, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Norway). Methods: Data were used from the ENERGY-project. Children and one of their parents completed a questionnaire, including questions on screen time behaviours and related individual and family environmental factors. Family environmental factors included social, political, economic and physical environmental factors. Complete data were obtained from 2022 child–parent dyads (53.8 % girls, mean child age 11.2 ± 0.8 years; mean parental age…

Parents and friends both matter: simultaneous and interactive influences of parents and friends on European schoolchildren's energy balance-related b…

2013

Published version of an article from the journal:International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. Also available from the publisher: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-11-82 Background: The family, and parents in particular, are considered the most important influencers regarding children’s energy-balance related behaviours (EBRBs). When children become older and gain more behavioural autonomy regarding different behaviours, the parental influences may become less important and peer influences may gain importance. Therefore the current study aims to investigate simultaneous and interactive associations of family rules, parent and friend norms and modelling with soft dri…

Parental modeling, education and children's sports and TV time: The ENERGY-project

2014

Abstract Objective We assessed whether differences in children's sports participation and television time according to parental education were mediated by parental modeling. Moreover, we explored the differences between parental and child reports on parental sports participation and television time as potential mediators. Methods 5729 children and 5183 parents participating in the EuropeaN Energy balance Research to prevent excessive weight Gain among Youth (ENERGY-project) during 2010 in seven European countries provided information on sports participation and television time using validated self-report questionnaires. Multilevel country-specific mediation models analyzed the potential med…

The school nutrition environment and its association with soft drink intakes in seven countries across Europe - the ENERGY project

2014

The school is an important setting for promoting healthy eating especially at the transition from childhood to adolescence. This study contributes to the literature by describing practices within physical, political and sociocultural aspects of the school nutrition environment in seven countries across Europe based on questionnaires to the school management, and exploring their associations with soft drink consumption reported on questionnaires by 10-12 year olds. Several of the commonly self-reported practices could be supportive of a healthy diet (time to eat, access to water, restriction on marketing), but some practices were underutilized (i.e. discussion with stakeholders, healthy food…

EuropeaN Energy balance Research to prevent excessive weight Gain among Youth (ENERGY) project: Design and methodology of the ENERGY cross-sectional …

2011

Abstract Background Obesity treatment is by large ineffective long term, and more emphasis on the prevention of excessive weight gain in childhood and adolescence is warranted. To inform energy balance related behaviour (EBRB) change interventions, insight in the potential personal, family and school environmental correlates of these behaviours is needed. Studies on such multilevel correlates of EBRB among schoolchildren in Europe are lacking. The ENERGY survey aims to (1) provide up-to-date prevalence rates of measured overweight, obesity, self-reported engagement in EBRBs, and objective accelerometer-based assessment of physical activity and sedentary behaviour and blood-sample biomarkers…

Additional file 1: of Individual and family environmental correlates of television and computer time in 10- to 12-year-old European children: the ENE…

2015

Bivariate associations between individual and family environmental factors and television or computer time per country. (DOCX 25 kb)

UP4FUN : A school-based and family-involved intervention to reduce and break up sitting time among European 10-12 year olds – systematic development …

2014

Differences in weight status and energy-balance related behaviours according to ethnic background among adolescents in seven countries in Europe: the…

2012

Objective The aim of this study was to explore differences in weight status and energy balance behaviours according to ethnic background among adolescents across Europe. Methods A school-based survey among 10–12-year-old adolescents was conducted in seven European countries. Weight, height and waist circumference were measured; engagement in physical activity, sedentary and dietary behaviour, and sleep duration was assessed by child and parent-report. A distinction between native and non-native ethnic background was based on language spoken at home, and the parents' country of birth. Analyses were conducted with and without adjustment for parental education. Results With valid data on both …

Towards the integration and development of a cross-European research network and infrastructure: the DEterminants of DIet and Physical ACtivity (DEDI…

2014

To address major societal challenges and enhance cooperation in research across Europe, the European Commission has initiated and facilitated ‘joint programming’. Joint programming is a process by which Member States engage in defining, developing and implementing a common strategic research agenda, based on a shared vision of how to address major societal challenges that no Member State is capable of resolving independently. Setting up a Joint Programming Initiative (JPI) should also contribute to avoiding unnecessary overlap and repetition of research, and enable and enhance the development and use of standardised research methods, procedures and data management. The Determinants of Diet …

Individual and family environmental correlates of television and computer time in 10-to 12-year-old European children: the ENERGY-project

2015

Background The aim was to investigate which individual and family environmental factors are related to television and computer time separately in 10- to-12-year-old children within and across five European countries (Belgium, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Norway). Methods Data were used from the ENERGY-project. Children and one of their parents completed a questionnaire, including questions on screen time behaviours and related individual and family environmental factors. Family environmental factors included social, political, economic and physical environmental factors. Complete data were obtained from 2022 child–parent dyads (53.8 % girls, mean child age 11.2 ± 0.8 years; mean parental age 4…

Family sociodemographic characteristics as correlates of children’s breakfast habits and weight status in eight European countries. The ENERGY (Europ…

2014

AbstractObjectiveThe purpose of the present study was to investigate the associations of family sociodemographic characteristics with children’s weight status and whether these potential associations are mediated by children’s breakfast habits.DesignA school-based survey among 10–12-year-old children was conducted in eight European countries. Children’s weight and height were measured and breakfast habits and family sociodemographic characteristics were self-reported by 5444 children and their parents. International Obesity Task Force cut-off points were used to categorize children as overweight/obese or normal weight. Mediation analyses were used to test the potential mediating effect of c…

Differences in beliefs and home environments regarding energy balance behaviors according to parental education and ethnicity among schoolchildren in…

2014

Background To explore differences in personal and home environmental factors that are regarded as determinants of energy balance-related behaviors (EBRBs) according to parental education and ethnic background among 10–12 year old schoolchildren across Europe. Methods A school-based survey among 10–12 year olds was conducted in eight countries across Europe. A range of personal and home environment variables relevant for soft drink consumption, daily breakfast, sport participation and TV time was assessed by means of child report. Personal factors included attitude, health beliefs, and preference/liking. Home environment factors included parental subjective norm, modeling, support, practices…

Longitudinal associations between cycling to school and weight status

2011

Objective. The objective of the present study was to assess the longitudinal association between cycling to school and weight status in two cities where cycling to school is common Kristiansand (Norway) and Rotterdam (The Netherlands). Methods. Data from two studies ENDORSE (Rotterdam) and YOUTH IN BALANCE (Kristiansand) were used. Both studies were longitudinal with two years between time (T) 1 and T2 measurements, and with mean age at T1 of 13.2 and 13.4 years, respectively. The sample was categorized into the following groups according to responses about main mode of commuting to school at the two time points: NO cycling, STARTED cycling, STOPPED cycling and CONTINUED cycling. Measured w…

Associations of commuting to school and work with demographic variables and with weight status in eight European countries: The ENERGY-cross sectiona…

2017

This study aims to assess the prevalence of different modes of commuting to school and work for 10–12 year-olds and their parents; to assess the associations with demographic variables (country, sex, parental education and ethnicity) and with weight status in eight European countries. As part of the ENERGY project a cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2010 in which modes of commuting and socio-demographic variables for children (N = 7903) and one of their parents (n = 6455) were measured by questionnaires. Children's weight and height were objectively measured; parents self-reported their weight and height. Logistic multilevel regression analyses assessed the associations between mode o…

Differences in Weight Status and Energy-Balance Related Behaviors among Schoolchildren across Europe: The ENERGY-Project

2012

Published version of an article published in the journal: PLoS ONE. Also available from the publisher at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0034742 Background: Current data on the prevalence of overweight and energy-balance behaviors among European children is necessary to inform overweight prevention interventions. Methodology/Principal Findings: A school-based survey among 10–12 year old children was conducted in seven European countries using a standardized protocol. Weight, height, and waist circumference were measured; Engagement in physical activity, sedentary and dietary behaviors, and sleep duration were self-reported. Descriptive analyses were conducted, looking at differences…

Screen-based sedentary time

2017

AimThe aim of the present study was to explore if children who spend more time on screen-based sedentary behaviors (i.e.TV viewing and computer use) drink more sugar-sweetened soft drinks. The study also assessed whether these associations were independent of individual and home environmental correlates of soft drink consumption and whether they were moderated by parental education.MethodsData were collected from 7886 children participating in the EuropeaN Energy balance Research to prevent excessive weight Gain among Youth (ENERGY) survey conducted in eight European countries. Self-report questionnaires were used. Multilevel linear regression analyses with soft drink consumption as depende…

Additional file 1: of Patterns of objectively measured sedentary time in 10- to 12-year-old Belgian children: an observational study within the ENERG…

2017

Dataset. Sedentary patterns of 10- to 12-year old children. (XLS 1444 kb)