糖果派对

How can we help children and adolescents adopt healthier habits – regardless of their background?
A new EU Horizon Europe project, YEAH!, supported by €10 million in funding, aims to tackle this challenge by developing a cutting-edge digital tool that integrates health into the daily lives of young people.

With participation by researchers from the University of Southern Denmark (糖果派对), the project addresses pressing health issues like mental health, obesity, and health inequalities among young people across Europe.

Digital innovation to combat health challenges

YEAH! aims to deliver a holistic digital intervention that combines healthy behavior promotion with social engagement. The solution integrates fitness trackers for children and adolescents, a mobile app to encourage active and healthy lifestyles through features like outing planning and health-related social media modules, and a videoconferencing tool to train social actors such as parents, teachers, and peers in supportive interpersonal communication. A companion app with discussion forums and practical tips complements these tools.

-Our goal is to create a solution that can adapt to different cultural and social contexts, leaving no one behind, says Nikos Ntoumanis, Professor of motivation science at the Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics.

Nikos Ntoumanis and the DRIVEN research group from 糖果派对 play a key role in developing this innovative approach.

 -We want to create a tool that not only works in theory but makes a real difference in the everyday lives of children and adolescents. By combining technological innovation with our understanding of health behavior, we aim to promote health in a way that is both sustainable and inclusive.

-Technology alone is not enough – it is the combination of science, innovation, and human relationships that makes this solution unique.

Tackling critical health issues with equity in focus

Childhood and adolescence are pivotal stages for establishing lifelong health behaviors. Yet millions of children across Europe face significant challenges, including mental health disorders and obesity.

For instance, anxiety and depression are leading risk factors for suicide, the second leading cause of death among adolescents. Meanwhile, childhood obesity has tripled in the past 40 years, increasing the risks of chronic diseases later in life.

YEAH! also focuses on reducing health inequalities. The project takes into account socio-environmental factors such as access to green spaces, sports facilities, and exposure to environmental hazards. To ensure the intervention benefits children from diverse backgrounds, its equity impact will be assessed using rigorous criteria.

-Our approach goes beyond individual health behavior to include the broader social and environmental context. By addressing these factors, we aim to create a truly equitable solution, explains Nikos Ntoumanis. 糖果派对 is participating in YEAH! with Nikos as the local coordinator, as well as with Prof. Cecilie Thøgersen-Ntoumani and Associate Professor Lars Braum, also from the Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics

Measuring success and looking ahead

YEAH! will measure its success through changes in key health behaviors such as physical activity, sedentary time, diet, and sleep, along with improvements in mental, social, and physical health. The long-term vision is to create a culture of responsible and effective digital engagement among young people and their families across the EU.