title: Assessing, understanding and modifying nutritional status, eating habits and physical activity in European adolescents: the HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the main knowledge gaps and to propose research lines that will be developed within the European Union-funded 'Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence' (HELENA) project, concerning the nutritional status, physical fitness and physical activity of adolescents in Europe.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of the currently existing literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main gaps identified were: lack of harmonised and comparable data on food intake; lack of understanding regarding the role of eating attitudes, food choices and food preferences; lack of harmonised and comparable data on levels and patterns of physical activity and physical fitness; lack of comparable data about obesity prevalence and body composition; lack of comparable data about micronutrient and immunological status; and lack of effective intervention methodologies for healthier lifestyles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The HELENA Study Group should develop, test and describe harmonised and state-of-the-art methods to assess the nutritional status and lifestyle of adolescents across Europe; develop and evaluate an intervention on eating habits and physical activity; and develop and test new healthy food products attractive for European adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Escuela Universitaria de Ciencias de la Salud, Domingo Miral s/n, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain. lmoreno@unizar.es
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González-Gross
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kersting
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Molnár
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Henauw
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Beghin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sjöström
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hagströmer
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Manios
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: F B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dallongeville
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arcella
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wärnberg
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hallberg
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fredriksson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maes
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Widhalm
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Kafatos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marcos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017195:Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001823:Body Composition; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005060:Europe; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010809:Physical Fitness; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012307:Risk Factors