YAHEE deals with the health behaviours of young adults in Europe and Asia (Taiwan), many of them living in difficult socio-economic conditions, especially after the COVID pandemic and in the midst of a cost of living crisis. Young adulthood (18 -25 years) is a critical life stage, with 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 healthy lifestyle behaviours in young disadvantaged adults. 

YAHEE includes 7 research teams from 5 countries (France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Taiwan). Based on a citizen science vision, YAHEE actively engages with participants, local stakeholders and policy makers to gain insights into potential leverage points for policies and interventions.  

YAHEE will make use of large existing studies in 2 countries to collect and analyse new data on food and physical activity environments in relation with lifestyle behaviours in tertiary students and in ethnically-diverse young populations.  

YAHEE will perform studies using an innovative digital tool (Travel Track) allowing young citizens in 4 countries to monitor their living environments for promotion of active transport and healthy food behaviour. Participants will then engage in workshops to capture their experiences and identify leverage points for policies and interventions.  

YAHEE will address adoption of policies that make the food and physical activity environments more health-enhancing. Systematic assessment of the scientific literature will be performed and case studies on adoption of specific policies will be conducted in 3 countries (Germany, Belgium and Taiwan). 

YAHEE will synthesise, integrate and disseminate findings from the project for translation into interventions and policies with relevant stakeholders, impacting the health of young citizens both in Europe and Asia (Taiwan).