In an interview with EUFIC, coordinator of the EU-funded HELENA study, Professor Luis Moreno of the University of Zaragoza (Spain), outlines the key findings from this groundbreaking research programme.
Every year, the number of obese children in the EU rises by 400 000. In an effort to gain a greater understanding of the issue, the three year Helena study (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) has undertaken research spanning 10 European countries and 26 research groups, using a common methodology designed to assess and understand the nutritional status and behaviour as well as the fitness and physical activity patterns of 3000 adolescents between 13 & 17 years of age. The outcomes are providing a unique picture of the current state of adolescent health and well-being as well as a better understanding of why health-related messages do not currently have sufficient impact on Europe’s adolescent population.
Professor Luis Moreno
Luis A. Moreno is professor of Public Health at the University of Zaragoza (Spain). He did his M.D. and Ph.D. trainings in the same University. He studied Human Nutrition and Public Health at the University of Nancy (France). His research activities focus on nutrition, lifestyle and body composition in children, and have been supported by several grants from the Spanish Ministry of Health and the EU 6th and 7th Framework Programmes (HELENA, IDEFICS, EURRECA, ENERGY projects). He is author of more than 100 papers published in peer-reviewed journals. He is coordinator of the E.U. project HELENA (Healthy lifestyle by nutrition in adolescence), supported by the EU 6th Framework Programme.
