Introduction

Getting enough exercise and eating a healthy diet are both equally important for good health. This is common knowledge. Yet many children and young people in the Netherlands still lead an unhealthy lifestyle.

This has consequences, both personal and social. So how do you prevent this? Or, more precisely, how can you teach children to start moving more - and keep moving? And how can you encourage young people to make healthier food choices?

About the research group

Mission

The research group focuses on promoting a healthy lifestyle among young people (ages 4-24 years) in the Haaglanden region by working together with current and future professionals and the target group to develop, evaluate and implement innovative products and programmes and services that promote physical activity and healthy food choices.

Vision

The research groups aims to work to promote a healthy lifestyle among young people ages 4 to 24 years through sustainable behaviour change. This behaviour change is achieved by converting knowledge about movement, diet, behaviour change, technology, interaction design and pedagogy into innovative products and programmes and services that consciously and/or subconsciously inspire children and young people to lead a health lifestyle. These efforts are based on a belief in the power of seduction and implicit learning, alongside persuasion and explicit learning. The innovations are integrally based on the desires, needs and perceptions of the target group and stakeholders. We work in a demand-driven and practice-oriented manner. That is why the research group works together closely with professionals in the field and the degree programmes and answers research questions originating directly from the professional field.

Sanne de Vries

About the professor

dr. Sanne de Vries

Sanne graduated with a degree in Human Movement Sciences and Epidemiology from the VU University Amsterdam. From 2000 to 2013, she worked as a researcher and project leader at TNO. Sanne earned her PhD from the VU University Amsterdam in 2009 in Social Medicine with a thesis entitled 'Activity-friendly neighbourhoods for children'. Sanne has been involved in more than 75 research projects involving young people, movement and health and has published more than 200 scientific reports. Her primary focus is on the role of the physical environment in movement behaviour, physical education and ‘nudging’, as well as the assessment of physical activity in young people

+31 (0)6 - 46 87 68 52
s.i.devries@hhs.nl

Linkedin profile

Team

Maria Arias
Stephan van Berkel

Stephan van Berkel

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Joan Dallinga

Joan Dallinga

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Joan Dallinga

06 - 43 56 84 03
j.m.dallinga@hhs.nl

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Gerben Helleman

Gerben Helleman

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Sofie van Rongen

Sofie van Rongen

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Wendy Scholtes-Bos

Wendy Scholtes-Bos

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Pim Koolwijk

Pim Koolwijk

06 - 21 83 49 76
p.koolwijk@hhs.nl

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Jonas Leenhouts

Jonas Leenhouts

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Jonas Leenhouts

06 - 28 37 47 86
j.j.leenhouts@hhs.nl

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Daniël van Leeuwen

Daniël van Leeuwen

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Daniël van Leeuwen

06 - 18 99 85 82
d.m.vanleeuwen-1@hhs.nl

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Portretfoto Machteld van Lieshout

Machteld van Lieshout

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Machteld van Lieshout

06 - 89 99 01 59
m.vanlieshout@hhs.nl

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Danica Mast

Danica Mast

06 - 86 80 38 58
d.mast@hhs.nl

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Daniël Spanjaard

Daniël Spanjaard

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Daniël Spanjaard

06 - 14 83 84 91
d.a.spanjaard@hhs.nl

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Axel Tichelaar

Axel Tichelaar

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Annemarie de Witte

Annemarie de Witte

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Annemarie de Witte

06 - 89 99 02 97
a.m.h.dewitte@hhs.nl

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Marieke Breed

Marieke Breed

Onderzoeker

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Marieke Breed

Onderzoeker

Marieke werkt als PhD onderzoeker aan het project: Countering Syndemics.
m.breed@hhs.nl 

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Karlijn Sporrel

Karlijn Sporrel

Researcher

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Karlijn Sporrel

Researcher

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Diana Eijgermans

Diana Eijgermans

Researcher

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Diana Eijgermans

Researcher

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Katja Bel

Katja Bel

Researcher

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Katja Bel

Researcher

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Bente van Dijk

Bente van Dijk

Junior Researcher

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Bente van Dijk

Junior Researcher

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Daphne Koeners

Daphne Koeners

Researcher

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Projects

Play-friendly cities

More and more children in the Netherlands are overweight, don't exercise enough and have poor motor skills. For children to become healthy and fit adults, it is important to encourage them to exercise more.
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MQ Scan: a quick test to measure motor skills in gym class

Children are exercising less and less, resulting in underdeveloped motor skills. That is why the Healthy Lifestyle in a Stimulating Environment research group has developed a motor skills test together with the VU University Amsterdam: the MQ scan.
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Addressing childhood obesity with digital technology (Blended Care – Better Care)

The 'Blended Care – Better Care' project applies a combination of offline and online care in helping overweight children adopt a healthier lifestyle. The application of digital technology offers many possibilities.
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News

4 December 2023

Lecturer THUAS appointed as Medical Delta Lecturer

Research

Many children do not meet the physical activity guidelines and make unhealthy food choices. Sanne de Vries, PhD…
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24 January 2023

Interview with a researcher in the neighbourhood: Marieke Breed

Research

Health issues and social problems often go hand in hand. This accumulation of problems is too often still seen as…
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9 November 2022

Food Boost Challenge wins the Pim BreeBaart Research Award 2022

Programmes, Research

We are extremely proud of the Food Boost Challenge research team! During the Prize Parade at THiNKFeST, Machteld van…
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Publications

Article

The Participant Journey Map: Understanding the Design of Interactive Augmented Play Spaces

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Article

Agreement Between the KTK3+ Test and the Athletic Skills Track for Classifying the Fundamental Movement Skills Proficiency of 6- to 12-Year-Old Children

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