The YAHEE project

YAHEE takes a systems, participatory approach to generate an improved understanding of enabling factors and barriers in the food and physical environments that drive healthy lifestyle behaviors in young disadvantaged adults, in Europe (Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands) and Asia (Taiwan).

Summary

Young adulthood (18 – 25 years) is a critical life stage, with often a shift to a less healthy lifestyle in terms of diet and physical activity. YAHEE aims to generate an improved understanding of “upstream” factors in the food and physical activity environments that drive lifestyle behaviours in young disadvantaged adults in Europe and Asia (Taiwan).

It includes 7 research teams from France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and Taiwan. Building on a citizen science vision, YAHEE actively engages with participants, local stakeholders, and policy makers to gain insights into how policies and interventions can help improve lifestyle behaviours.

It makes use of existing large studies to collect and analyse new data on food and physical activity environments in relation to lifestyle behaviours in tertiary students and in ethnically-diverse young populations.

Participants in YAHEE will use an innovative digital tool (Travel Track) allowing young citizens to monitor their living environments for promotion of active transport and healthy food behaviour.

YAHEE addresses adoption of policies that make the food and physical activity environments more health-enhancing through systematic reviews and case studies.

YAHEE will synthesise, integrate, and disseminate findings from the project for later translation into interventions and policies with relevant stakeholders.