Take some time to meet the Research Group Physical Activity, Fitness and Health at the Ghent University.
(Picture)
From left to right, top to bottom: Greet Cardon, Jelle Van Cauwenberg,
Cedric Busschaert, Tom Deliens, Benedicte Deforche, Katrien De Cocker,
Femke De Meester, Veerle Van Holle, Vera Verbestel, Veerle Dubuy,
Charlene Veldeman, Delfien Van Dyck, Griet Vanwolleghem, Sara D’Haese,
Lieze Mertens, Leen Haerens, Maïté Verloigne, Ariane Ghekiere, Ilse De
Bourdeaudhuij, Ann DeSmet, An De Meester, Sara De Lepeleere, Sofie
Compernolle, Dorien Simons, Jolien Plaete
From left to right, top to bottom: Greet Cardon, Jelle Van Cauwenberg,
Cedric Busschaert, Tom Deliens, Benedicte Deforche, Katrien De Cocker,
Femke De Meester, Veerle Van Holle, Vera Verbestel, Veerle Dubuy,
Charlene Veldeman, Delfien Van Dyck, Griet Vanwolleghem, Sara D’Haese,
Lieze Mertens, Leen Haerens, Maïté Verloigne, Ariane Ghekiere, Ilse De
Bourdeaudhuij, Ann DeSmet, An De Meester, Sara De Lepeleere, Sofie
Compernolle, Dorien Simons, Jolien Plaete
What is the name of your group?
Research Group Physical Activity, Fitness and Health
Where are you located?
Ghent University
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
Department of Movement and Sport Sciences
Watersportlaan 2
9000 Ghent
Belgium
What is something interesting or unusual about your City/Town?
The
history of Ghent begins in the year 630, when St Amandus chose the site
of the confluence of the two rivers, the Lys and the Scheldt, to
construct an abbey. Nearly 1400 years of history are still palpable in
the city today: a medieval castle surrounded by a moat, an imposing
cathedral, a belfry, three béguinages… Nowhere else does one find so
much history per square meter than in the historical heart of Ghent.
This is why Lonely Planet has called our city “Europe’s best kept
secret” and the National Geographic Traveler Magazine has listed this
city as the most authentic historic city in the world and full of life.
history of Ghent begins in the year 630, when St Amandus chose the site
of the confluence of the two rivers, the Lys and the Scheldt, to
construct an abbey. Nearly 1400 years of history are still palpable in
the city today: a medieval castle surrounded by a moat, an imposing
cathedral, a belfry, three béguinages… Nowhere else does one find so
much history per square meter than in the historical heart of Ghent.
This is why Lonely Planet has called our city “Europe’s best kept
secret” and the National Geographic Traveler Magazine has listed this
city as the most authentic historic city in the world and full of life.
Who are the members of your group (name, degree(s), research focus)?
• Executive Committee
• Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij, PhD – Professor
• Greet Cardon, PhD – Professor
• Benedicte Deforche, PhD – Professor
• Katrien De Cocker, PhD – Post-doctorate
• Delfien Van Dyck, PhD – Post-doctorate
• Maïté Verloigne, PhD – Post-doctorate
• 28 PhD students
Tell us about the research conducted by your group.
Our
research group has extensive expertise in research in patterns and
determinants of physical activity and sedentary behavior in different
target groups (toddlers, preschoolers, children, adolescents, adults,
elderly, patients, obese children, … ) and in different settings (home,
day care, school, work). Furthermore, the impact of the physical
environment on physical activity in different age groups is widely
studied by making use of questionnaires and more objective measurement
methods (e.g., accelerometers, GIS). Our research group has also wide
expertise in designing, developing, implementing and evaluating programs
promoting physical activity and healthy living in different age groups.
Besides the promotion of physical activity, we evaluate interventions
to reduce and to regularly break up (interrupt) sedentary behavior. Our
research group works closely together with the research groups
“Biomechanics and motor learning” and “Didactics”, which are in the same
department, and the Department of Public Health and we collaborate with
many partners from all over the world and are higly involved in ISBNPA.
We also collaborate with community partners, policymakers, and other
institutions to achieve our goals.
research group has extensive expertise in research in patterns and
determinants of physical activity and sedentary behavior in different
target groups (toddlers, preschoolers, children, adolescents, adults,
elderly, patients, obese children, … ) and in different settings (home,
day care, school, work). Furthermore, the impact of the physical
environment on physical activity in different age groups is widely
studied by making use of questionnaires and more objective measurement
methods (e.g., accelerometers, GIS). Our research group has also wide
expertise in designing, developing, implementing and evaluating programs
promoting physical activity and healthy living in different age groups.
Besides the promotion of physical activity, we evaluate interventions
to reduce and to regularly break up (interrupt) sedentary behavior. Our
research group works closely together with the research groups
“Biomechanics and motor learning” and “Didactics”, which are in the same
department, and the Department of Public Health and we collaborate with
many partners from all over the world and are higly involved in ISBNPA.
We also collaborate with community partners, policymakers, and other
institutions to achieve our goals.
Some of our key research projects:
‘ToyBox-study’
(Multifactorial evidence based approach using behavioural models in
understanding and promoting fun, healthy food, play and policy for the
prevention of obesity in early childhood) brings together a
multidisciplinary team of 15 researchers from 10 countries across Europe
aiming to build and evaluate a cost-effective kindergarten-based,
family-involved intervention scheme to prevent obesity in early
childhood, which could potentially be expanded on a pan-European scale. http://www.toybox-study.eu/
(Multifactorial evidence based approach using behavioural models in
understanding and promoting fun, healthy food, play and policy for the
prevention of obesity in early childhood) brings together a
multidisciplinary team of 15 researchers from 10 countries across Europe
aiming to build and evaluate a cost-effective kindergarten-based,
family-involved intervention scheme to prevent obesity in early
childhood, which could potentially be expanded on a pan-European scale. http://www.toybox-study.eu/
‘The
Energy-project’ is a cross-European project with the overall aim to
develop a theory- and evidence based intervention program to promote
healthy energy balance-related behaviors for the prevention of
unnecessary weight gain in children. http://www.project-energy.eu/
Energy-project’ is a cross-European project with the overall aim to
develop a theory- and evidence based intervention program to promote
healthy energy balance-related behaviors for the prevention of
unnecessary weight gain in children. http://www.project-energy.eu/
‘The
IPEN Study’ was launched to further the field by addressing
underestimated associations of environmental correlates of physical
activity due to the limited range of environments in any single country.
Funded by the National Institutes of Health, the IPEN Study will pool
data from at least 14 countries, including Belgium (BEPAS project) to
estimate strengths of association between detailed measures of the built
environment and physical activity. http://www.ipenproject.org/
IPEN Study’ was launched to further the field by addressing
underestimated associations of environmental correlates of physical
activity due to the limited range of environments in any single country.
Funded by the National Institutes of Health, the IPEN Study will pool
data from at least 14 countries, including Belgium (BEPAS project) to
estimate strengths of association between detailed measures of the built
environment and physical activity. http://www.ipenproject.org/
‘The
10.000 steps/day project’ aims to increase the day-to-day activity by
encouraging people to use a step-counting pedometer to accumulate
"incidental" physical activity as part of their everyday living.
10.000 steps/day project’ aims to increase the day-to-day activity by
encouraging people to use a step-counting pedometer to accumulate
"incidental" physical activity as part of their everyday living.
‘SPOTLIGHT’
will systematically define the factors necessary for establishing
effective health promotion approaches. Different levels in varying
contexts will be taken into account – individual, family,
organizational, and environments that can change behavior, lifestyles,
and life skills to sustainably reduce obesogenic behaviors in an
innovative way. By providing new perspectives on obesity prevention the
project will support the development and implementation of effective
obesity prevention approaches by local authorities, public health and
other practitioners. These perspectives will maximize the use of state
of the art knowledge and will help policy makers to invest necessary
resources in the most effective long-term prevention efforts. In
addition, it will provide a stimulus for health scientists to explore
further study possibilities to reduce (the burden of) obesity and
flatten the social gradient associated with it. http://www.spotlightproject.eu/
will systematically define the factors necessary for establishing
effective health promotion approaches. Different levels in varying
contexts will be taken into account – individual, family,
organizational, and environments that can change behavior, lifestyles,
and life skills to sustainably reduce obesogenic behaviors in an
innovative way. By providing new perspectives on obesity prevention the
project will support the development and implementation of effective
obesity prevention approaches by local authorities, public health and
other practitioners. These perspectives will maximize the use of state
of the art knowledge and will help policy makers to invest necessary
resources in the most effective long-term prevention efforts. In
addition, it will provide a stimulus for health scientists to explore
further study possibilities to reduce (the burden of) obesity and
flatten the social gradient associated with it. http://www.spotlightproject.eu/
‘Project
Levenslijn’ aims at the development of an evidence-based intervention
to promote more and safer active commuting to school in primary
schoolchildren. The main study of the project contains a randomized
control trial to evaluate the effects of a multi-factorial intervention.
Levenslijn’ aims at the development of an evidence-based intervention
to promote more and safer active commuting to school in primary
schoolchildren. The main study of the project contains a randomized
control trial to evaluate the effects of a multi-factorial intervention.
For more about our research and other projects, visit: http://www.ugent.be/ge/bsw/nl/onderzoek/fysieke_activiteit
What are some representative publications by your group that may be of special interest to ISBNPA’s members?
De
Bourdeaudhuij, I., te Velde, S., Brug, J., Due, P., Wind, M., Sandvik,
C., Maes, L., Wolf, A., Perez Rodrigo, C., Yngve, A., Thorsdottir, I.,
Rasmussen, M., Elmadfa, I., Franchini, B., Klepp, K.I. (2008). Personal,
social and environmental predictors of daily fruit and vegetable intake
in 11 year old children in 9 European countries. European Journal of
Clinical Nutrition. 62: 834-841.
Bourdeaudhuij, I., te Velde, S., Brug, J., Due, P., Wind, M., Sandvik,
C., Maes, L., Wolf, A., Perez Rodrigo, C., Yngve, A., Thorsdottir, I.,
Rasmussen, M., Elmadfa, I., Franchini, B., Klepp, K.I. (2008). Personal,
social and environmental predictors of daily fruit and vegetable intake
in 11 year old children in 9 European countries. European Journal of
Clinical Nutrition. 62: 834-841.
Van Dyck D,
Cerin E, Conway T, De Bourdeaudhuij I, Owen N, Kerr J, Cardon G, Frank
LD, Saelens BE, Sallis JF. Perceived neighborhood environmental
attributes associated with adults’ transport-related walking and
cycling: Findings from the USA, Australia and Belgium. Int J Behav Nutr
Phys Act. 2012; 9: 70.
Cerin E, Conway T, De Bourdeaudhuij I, Owen N, Kerr J, Cardon G, Frank
LD, Saelens BE, Sallis JF. Perceived neighborhood environmental
attributes associated with adults’ transport-related walking and
cycling: Findings from the USA, Australia and Belgium. Int J Behav Nutr
Phys Act. 2012; 9: 70.
Van Dyck D, Cardon G,
Deforche B, Sallis JF, Owen N, De Bourdeaudhuij I. Neighborhood SES and
walkability are related to physical activity behavior in Belgian adults.
Prev Med. 2010; 50: S74-S79.
Deforche B, Sallis JF, Owen N, De Bourdeaudhuij I. Neighborhood SES and
walkability are related to physical activity behavior in Belgian adults.
Prev Med. 2010; 50: S74-S79.
De Bourdeaudhuij,
I., Van Cauwenberghe, E., Spittaels, H., Oppert, JM., Brug, J.,
Lobstein, T., James, P., Maes, L. (2011) School-based interventions
promoting physical activity and healthy eating in Europe: a systematic
review within the HOPE project. Obesity review. 12(3): 205-216.
I., Van Cauwenberghe, E., Spittaels, H., Oppert, JM., Brug, J.,
Lobstein, T., James, P., Maes, L. (2011) School-based interventions
promoting physical activity and healthy eating in Europe: a systematic
review within the HOPE project. Obesity review. 12(3): 205-216.
Van
Cauwenberghe, E., Maes, L., Spittaels, H., van Lenthe, F.J., Brug, J.,
De Bourdeaudhuij, I. (2010) Effectiveness of school-based interventions
in Europe to promote healthy nutrition in children and adolescents:
systematic review of published and ‘grey’ literature. British Journal of
Nutrition. 103(6): 781-97.
Cauwenberghe, E., Maes, L., Spittaels, H., van Lenthe, F.J., Brug, J.,
De Bourdeaudhuij, I. (2010) Effectiveness of school-based interventions
in Europe to promote healthy nutrition in children and adolescents:
systematic review of published and ‘grey’ literature. British Journal of
Nutrition. 103(6): 781-97.
Cardon, G., Van
Cauwenberghe, E., Labarque, V., Haerens, L., De Bourdeaudhuij, I. (2008)
The contribution of preschool playground factors in explaining
children’s physical activity during recess. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act
5(1): 11.
Cauwenberghe, E., Labarque, V., Haerens, L., De Bourdeaudhuij, I. (2008)
The contribution of preschool playground factors in explaining
children’s physical activity during recess. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act
5(1): 11.
De Bourdeaudhuij, I., Maes, L., De
Henauw, S., De Vriendt, T., Moreno, L., Kersting, M., Sarri, K., Manios,
Y., Widhalm, K., Sjöstrom, M., Ruiz, J., Haerens, L.; HELENA Study
Group.(2010) Evaluation of a computer-tailored physical activity
intervention in adolescents in six European countries: the Activ-O-Meter
in the HELENA intervention study. J Adolesc Health. 46(5): 458-466.
Henauw, S., De Vriendt, T., Moreno, L., Kersting, M., Sarri, K., Manios,
Y., Widhalm, K., Sjöstrom, M., Ruiz, J., Haerens, L.; HELENA Study
Group.(2010) Evaluation of a computer-tailored physical activity
intervention in adolescents in six European countries: the Activ-O-Meter
in the HELENA intervention study. J Adolesc Health. 46(5): 458-466.
De
Cocker, K., van Uffelen, J., Brown, W. (2010) Associations between
sitting time and weight in young adult Australian women. Prev Med.
51(5): 361-367.
Cocker, K., van Uffelen, J., Brown, W. (2010) Associations between
sitting time and weight in young adult Australian women. Prev Med.
51(5): 361-367.
