On September 19-20, Paloma Lanza from the Health Economics Research Group and Rosa María Cazalilla, representing the IDIVAL working team led by Dr. David Cantarero and Dr. María Jesús Cabero, attended the progress meeting for the European Health4EUkids project.
The Health4EUKids Joint Action began in December 2022 with the goal of transferring the experience of best practices from “Grunau Moves” (WP5) and “Smart Family” (WP6) to other contexts. During this meeting, held at the facilities of the Menorca School of Public Health in the Lazareto of Mahón, participants reviewed the status of each of the best practices implemented at the 18-month mark. The attendees of both initiatives shared their implementation experiences and discussed and explored solutions or alternatives to any barriers encountered.
Health4EUkids Project
The Joint Action for the application of best practices and research findings on healthy lifestyles to promote health and prevent non-communicable diseases and risk factors (Health4EUkids) aims to develop policies that encourage public health investment at the community level in each member country. The focus is on health promotion, disease prevention, and managing non-communicable diseases.
The project’s scope includes promoting actions among participating Member States to encourage healthier habits in families with children, aiming to prevent childhood obesity, increase physical activity, and improve healthy eating. These actions aim to change social norms, strengthen recognition, and improve self-esteem, particularly in disadvantaged districts.
The expected outcomes of the research will focus on identifying specific challenges to prevent non-communicable diseases and proposing policy solutions, including best practices and innovations that allow for joint action between Member States and the Commission.
Health4EUkids Project: Pilot in Torrelavega, Cantabria
The intervention replicating and contextualizing Grunau Moves consists of a community-based intervention in vulnerable neighborhoods. Through community networks, it seeks to bring about environmental changes to make healthy behaviors easier by offering activities and resources to children and families, promoting a more active and healthy lifestyle.
In Torrelavega, the project is being developed in the Covadonga and La Inmobiliaria neighborhoods. An environmental assessment that influences obesity in these areas is underway, also involving local schools in these neighborhoods, with the aim of organizing actions geared toward health promotion.
The “Health4EUKids” project is co-financed by the European Union under grant agreement No. 101082462.
Cover photo: Participants of the Health4EUkids Joint Action at the Menorca meeting.
