Over the project period CO-CREATE has:
Developed the MOVING policy database for physical activity to complement the existing NOURISHING database on food and nutrition. Both databases have been refined and include an increasing number of verified, benchmarked policies from across Europe and international.
Provided a systematic review of published research literature addressing measures implemented to prevent adolescent overweight and obesity, and performed analyses of time trends in energy balance related behaviors in Europe and South Africa.
Performed system mapping with youth in six European countries (Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal and the UK) and South-Africa, and synthesized the results to identify the perceived drivers of childhood obesity among adolescents.
Organized Youth Alliances in five European countries (as listed above) using a project developed engagement protocol guided by the principles of participatory action research, resulting in a broad range of policy ideas proposed, formulated, and researched by youth.
Developed, tested and launched an in-person and a digital Dialogue Forum model, designed to promote youth leadership and empowerment and mitigate conflicts of interests, and implemented the model in organizing Dialogue forums with youth from the Youth Alliances and other stakeholders to discuss and refine youth selected policy ideas.
Developed a protocol for policy implementation and evaluation and investigated opportunities for its implementation in the countries listed above. Developed a systems dynamics model, including elements related to weight development, physical activity, food environment, social norms, and mental health.
Designed protocols for data collection, protection and sharing and how to address ethical issues (foreseen and unforeseen events), and collected research data at a central data server, laying the groundwork for open access data sharing.
Developed an extensive protocol for dissemination and exploitation of project results, including a home page for the project (www.CO-CREATE.eu) a youth-friendly, interactive web-page for Healthy Voices – youth driving change (www.worldobesity.org/healthy-voices) set up in collaboration with the STOP project, and extensive use of social media (including Instagram and twitter accounts).
Published scientific papers, policy briefs and reports (all available at the project main website), and maintained Healthy Voices website as a capacity building site for young people.
Launched a CO-CREATE documentary and video series outlining key project work, and highlighting the important need to include young people in policy and research drawing on CO-CREATE experiences.
Fostered strong collaborative relationships with other Horizon 2020 and European-wide projects, allowing identification of and building on synergies and cross-fertilization of ideas.
