Research inspires teenagers to eat well and move more

Innovative research is supporting teenagers make healthier choices that will help them live well for longer.

Southampton researchers are leading the EACH-B programme.

It involves fun science activities, support from teachers, a visit to the expert facilities, and access to a specially-designed smartphone app.

Experiences from across the research programme are being shared in three new videos.

Changing behaviours

Poor diet and lack of exercise cost the NHS £7 billion a year and cause many to die early.

Habits formed as teenagers tend to last. Physical and psychological changes during these years make it an important time to help them form healthier habits.

Making small, sustained changes, such as eating more fruit and vegetables, can reduce risks of heart disease or diabetes in later life.

Existing interventions for helping teenagers tend to only work for those ready to change, or who see diet and exercise as important. The EACH-B programme is working with teenagers, their parents and their teachers to engage more young people in eating well and being more active.

A new intervention

EACH-B - Engaging Adolescents in Changing Behaviour – has developed and is testing a new intervention with teenagers from state secondary schools.

The young people take part in a LifeLab three-week science module linked to the national curriculum. This helps 13-14 year olds think about science and their health.

They also receive encouragement from teachers trained to support students to improve their diets and exercise plus a specially-designed interactive smartphone app that involves friends and has game features that encourage students to eat better and move more.

EACH-B is funded at the University of Southampton by the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR).

How to take part

Schools can sign up to take part in EACH-B by contacting eachb@soton.ac.uk.

Patient and public involvement is also at the heart of EACH-B's work.

Teenagers and parent advisors play a key role in developing the research questions and helping make sense of the findings.

You can find out more about participating in EACH-B or wider Southampton research by emailing Publicinvolvement@uhs.nhs.uk.