Health behaviour epidemiology

Group

Health behaviours such as physical activity, diet, alcohol consumption and smoking, have a major impact on healthy life expectancy. The determinants of health behaviours are complex and multifaceted, including individual, social, and environmental factors.

Our research is aimed to understand the development of health behaviours over the life course and to identify periods of increased susceptibility for behavioural change. We evaluate lifestyle interventions focusing on disease risk reduction to improve the healthy life expectancy of the general population. In addition, we investigate the role of the food and physical environment on these health behaviours. We analyse data from large, population-based cohort studies, such as Lifelines.

We collaborate with the Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute.