Project

Development, implementation and evaluation of a multicomponent nutrition intervention in higher education students

Code
365H01222
Duration
01 October 2022 → 30 September 2026
Funding
Funding by bilateral agreement (private and foundations)
Research disciplines
  • Medical and health sciences
    • Health promotion and policy
    • Public health nutrition
Keywords
students nutrition health promotion university
 
Project description

As unhealthy dietary behaviour and obesity are two main risk factors of cancer, it is of utmost importance to create a shift in younger individuals towards lifelong healthy dietary patterns and less weight gain. The transition from high school to college or university is a well-known and well-studied risk period of weight gain and not meeting the recommended dietary guidelines. Unfortunately, students are an often neglected target group in health promotion efforts. Therefore, the aim of this project is to develop, implement and test a multicomponent prevention program targeting nutrition behaviour and thus avoid weight gain in Flemish higher education students. In the long-term, this will affect the development of cancer (and other noncommunicable diseases). The first study of this project aims to provide insight into the relevant stakeholders in higher education settings and their perspectives on facilitating and hindering factors of adoption and implementation of intervention strategies. The second study entails the effect and process evaluation of the developed intervention including two college and two university campuses. When proven effective, the intervention can be disseminated among all higher education institutions in Flanders as part of a cancer prevention strategy.