A European initiative promoting a healthy lifestyle among young people aged 10-17: The Rock Your Health Project (RYHEALTH)

  • Sonia Ortega Gómez MOVE-IT Research Group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Cadiz, and Biomedical Research Innovation Institute of Cádiz (INiBICA), Cadiz, Spain. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8589-5672
  • Cristina Cadenas-Sanchez Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Sport and Health University Research Institute (iMUDS), University of Granada, Granada, Spain. Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4513-9108
  • Rubén Aragón-Martín MOVE-IT Research Group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Cadiz, and Biomedical Research Innovation Institute of Cádiz (INiBICA), Cadiz, Spain. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1956-3087
  • Jostin Alfaro-Fernández MOVE-IT Research Group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Cadiz, and Biomedical Research Innovation Institute of Cádiz (INiBICA), Cadiz, Spain.
  • Paulo Nobre University of Coimbra, Research Unit for Sport and Physical Activity (CIDAF) Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, Coimbra, Portugal. University of Coimbra, Center for Interdisciplinary Studies (CEIS20), Coimbra (GUPOEDE), Portugal. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8490-1794
  • Maria João Campos University of Coimbra, Research Unit for Sport and Physical Activity (CIDAF) Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, Coimbra, Portugal. Center of Interdisciplinary Study of Human Perfomance (CIPER), Portugal. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2148-3534
  • Aristides M. Machado-Rodrigues University of Coimbra, Research Unit for Sport and Physical Activity (CIDAF), Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, Coimbra, Portugal. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7169-8034
  • Paula Tavares University of Coimbra, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB); University of Coimbra, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, Portugal. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2287-2446
  • Ana Carbonell-Baeza MOVE-IT Research Group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Cadiz, and Biomedical Research Innovation Institute of Cádiz (INiBICA), Cadiz, Spain. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1762-2925
  • David Jiménez-Pavón MOVE-IT Research Group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Cadiz, and Biomedical Research Innovation Institute of Cádiz (INiBICA), Cadiz, Spain. CIBER of Frailty and Healthy Aging (CIBERFES), Madrid, Spain. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8977-4744
DOI: https://doi.org/10.33155/ramd.v17i4.1190
Keywords: Physical Activity, Nutrition, Mental Health, Adolescents, Youth Actividad Física, Nutrición, Salud Mental, Adolescentes, Jóvenes Atividade Física, Nutrição, Saúde Mental, Adolescentes, Jovens

Abstract

Background: The RYHEALTH project is a European initiative aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle among young people aged 10-17.9 years. The project focuses on four key pillars: physical activity, nutrition, mental health, and sustainability, recognizing their interconnected impact on adolescent well-being.

Objective: The project aims to assess the lifestyle behaviors of European adolescents, examining the interrelationships between physical activity, nutrition and mental health. Additionally, the project seeks to develop a digital intervention platform (RYHEALTH HUB) to provide accessible, evidence-based resources for promoting healthy behaviors among youth, parents, and educators.

Methods: This cross-sectional study will collect data from adolescents in Germany, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden using the RYHEALTH e-Questionnaire, a validated, multilingual digital survey. The questionnaire assesses sociodemographic factors, physical activity, dietary patterns, and mental well-being. Statistical analyses will explore associations between lifestyle behaviors and key health indicators, adjusting for sociodemographic factors.

Expected Results: It is anticipated that a significant proportion of adolescents will not meet recommended guidelines for physical activity, diet, and mental well-being. Positive associations are expected between regular physical activity, Mediterranean diet adherence, and improved mental health outcomes. In contrast, sedentary behavior and poor dietary habits could correlate with increased stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Additionally, exposure to nature is hypothesized to have protective effects on psychological well-being.

Conclusion: The findings will provide a comprehensive understanding of youth lifestyle behaviors across Europe, facilitating the development of evidence-based interventions. RYHEALTH HUB, an innovative digital platform, will serve as a resource to support adolescents, parents, and educators in adopting and maintaining healthy lifestyle habits.

Published
2025-04-23
Issue
Vol. 17 No. 4 (2024): December 2024
Section
Artículos Protocolos
DOI
https://doi.org/10.33155/ramd.v17i4.1190