Over the past six months, the project has continued to make significant progress in advancing research, innovation, and collaboration in obesity prevention and healthy lifestyle promotion. From new scientific publications and international conference presentations to the annual consortium meeting, this period has been marked by important achievements across the project. In this edition, we look back at the latest developments and highlight the collective efforts of our partners working towards healthier lifestyles and improved well-being across Europe
News
Strengthening the Stakeholder Advisory Board
HealthyW8 is pleased to welcome Prof. Jochen Klucken as a new member of the Stakeholder Advisory Board (StAB).
Prof. Klucken is Chair of Digital Medicine at the University of Luxembourg and the Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg. With extensive expertise in neurology, neuroscience, digital health technologies, artificial intelligence, and personalised healthcare, he brings valuable knowledge that will support the project's strategic direction and impact.
His appointment further strengthens the multidisciplinary expertise represented within the Advisory Board and reinforces HealthyW8's commitment to innovation in obesity prevention and digital health.
Learn more about Prof. Jochen Klucken and the full Advisory Board
HealthyW8 Partners Meet in Rome for the 3rd Annual Meeting
From 24–26 March 2026, HealthyW8 consortium partners gathered in Rome, Italy, for the project's 3rd Annual Meeting.
The meeting provided an important opportunity for partners to review progress, discuss ongoing activities, and coordinate future work. Throughout the three days, participants exchanged knowledge and insights across the project work packages, including pilot trial results, long-term interventions, digital tools, data integration, scientific publications, and communication activities.
The discussions helped align efforts across the consortium and ensure continued progress towards the development of innovative solutions that support healthier lifestyles and obesity prevention.
New Healthy Recipes Section Added to the Open Stakeholder Platform
The HealthyW8 Open Stakeholder Platform has expanded with the launch of a new Healthy Recipes section.
Developed with the support of the European Federation of the Associations of Dietitians (EFAD), this new resource offers a collection of nutritious and easy-to-prepare recipes inspired by diverse European culinary traditions.
Each recipe includes practical preparation guidance and nutritional information, providing users with accessible tools to support healthier everyday food choices. The new section represents another step in HealthyW8's efforts to translate scientific knowledge into practical resources that encourage healthy living.
Discover the Healthy Recipes section
Publications
Study Protocol Published for the Healthy Lifestyle Recommender System Pilot
A new open-access article has been published in the Journal of Personalized Medicine presenting the study protocol for the HealthyW8 Healthy Lifestyle Recommender System (HLRS) pilot study.
The publication describes a multi-country European evaluation of a personalised digital intervention that combines mobile health technologies, wearable devices, and gamification elements to encourage sustainable lifestyle changes among young adults.
The study contributes to the growing field of precision prevention by exploring how personalised digital solutions can support obesity prevention and long-term behaviour change.
Comprehensive Review on Multimodal (Bio)Markers and Obesity Risk
HealthyW8 researchers have published a comprehensive scoping review in Advances in Nutrition entitled “Multimodal (Bio)Markers and Risk of Obesity”.
The review brings together current evidence on biological, behavioural, and psychological markers associated with obesity risk. It highlights the value of integrating multiple data sources to improve risk assessment, early identification, and prevention strategies.
The publication also explores emerging areas such as multi-omics approaches, lifestyle factors, mental health, and advanced analytical methods that can contribute to more personalised prevention efforts.
CREDA Study Highlights the Economic Impact of Obesity
Researchers from HealthyW8 partner CREDA have published a new study in BMC Public Health examining the relationship between body weight and hospitalisation rates across Europe.
Using data from more than 134,000 adults in eight European countries, the study found higher hospitalisation rates among adults living with obesity, while underweight individuals showed an even greater risk. The findings also suggest that reducing obesity prevalence by just 1% could generate substantial annual healthcare savings.
The study provides important evidence for policymakers and healthcare stakeholders seeking to address the economic and health burden associated with obesity.
Read the full open-access paper
OBEClust Position Paper Calls for Stronger Prevention Strategies
A new position paper published by OBEClust in The Lancet Regional Health emphasises the continued importance of primary obesity prevention.
While recognising the significant advances offered by GLP-1 receptor agonists in obesity treatment, the paper argues that pharmacological approaches alone cannot address the broader social and environmental determinants of obesity.
The authors highlight the need for sustained investment in prevention policies and healthier environments to achieve long-term and equitable public health outcomes.
University of Twente Researchers Advance Wearable-Based Energy Expenditure Estimation
Researchers from the University of Twente have published a new study exploring innovative methods for estimating physical activity energy expenditure using wearable technologies.
The research combines physiological modelling with wearable sensor data to provide more interpretable and accurate estimates of daily energy expenditure. Compared with several conventional machine learning and deep learning approaches, the proposed method demonstrated promising performance while offering greater insight into the underlying physiological processes.
The findings contribute to ongoing efforts to improve digital health technologies and personalised health monitoring.
Events
HealthyW8 Research Presented at Childhood Obesity Prevention Conference
HealthyW8 was represented at the 34th Novo Nordisk Foundation Science Cluster Conference, “Prevention of Childhood Obesity: Body, Brain and Society”.
During the event, DTU PhD student Signe Skovgaard Hansen presented a poster showcasing the HealthyW8 intervention implemented in Denmark. The work focused on promoting healthy behaviours among children living in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities and highlighted the project's commitment to supporting healthy lifestyles from an early age.
HealthyW8 Featured at International Conference in Kosovo
Researchers from the University of Gastronomic Sciences (UNISG) presented HealthyW8 at the International Conference “Sustainable Development, Digital Society, Human Values and the Future of Knowledge” in Ferizaj, Kosovo.
Their presentation explored how holistic and participatory human-digital infrastructures can support healthy lifestyles, personalised nutrition, and obesity prevention. The event provided an excellent opportunity to share project outcomes and engage with researchers working at the intersection of health, sustainability, and digital innovation.
HealthyW8 Research Presented at EHMC 2026
HealthyW8 was also represented at the European Health Management Conference (EHMC 2026) in Barcelona, Spain.
During the conference, CREDA researcher Adzran Mustapa presented a systematic review and meta-analysis examining the use of the Theory of Planned Behaviour to predict weight-related outcomes.
The research contributes to a better understanding of behavioural determinants associated with obesity and supports the development of more effective health interventions.
The presentation offered an opportunity to share HealthyW8 research with the broader health management community and stimulate discussions on innovative approaches to obesity prevention.
Related Events
Discover Upcoming Events in Obesity Prevention, Nutrition and Public Health
Our website features a selection of upcoming conferences, workshops, webinars, and networking opportunities covering topics such as nutrition, obesity prevention, digital health, behaviour change, public health, and healthy lifestyle promotion.
Whether you are a researcher, healthcare professional, policymaker, or stakeholder interested in these fields, these events offer valuable opportunities to stay informed about the latest developments, exchange knowledge, and connect with experts from across Europe and beyond.
Visit the Events section of the HealthyW8 website to explore upcoming opportunities and stay engaged with the wider community working towards healthier societies.
Thank You!
Thank you for following the progress of the HealthyW8 project!
As we move into the next phase of the project, we look forward to sharing further developments, research outcomes, publications, and stakeholder activities that contribute to our mission of promoting healthier lifestyles and preventing obesity across Europe.
Stay connected through our website and social media channels to keep up to date with the latest HealthyW8 news and achievements.
See you in the next edition of the HealthyW8 Newsletter!