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Scientific Publications & Research by HealthyW8

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Welcome to our Publications section, where we showcase the latest scientific research and findings from the HealthyW8 consortium. Here, you will find peer-reviewed articles, journal papers, and other scholarly publications that contribute to the advancement of evidence-based strategies for sustainable weight management. Explore our work and stay informed on the latest developments in nutrition, health, and science!

  • ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING BIOMARKERS TO CHARACTERIZE PERSONS AT RISK FOR OBESITY—PAVING THE WAY FOR TARGETED CLINICAL INTERVENTION TRIALS—A COMPREHENSIVE POSITION PAPER

    This position paper reviews established and emerging biomarkers for identifying individuals at risk of developing obesity. It highlights the multifactorial nature of obesity and the limitations of relying on single biomarkers. The authors propose a more integrated, multimodal approach combining biological, behavioural, environmental and psychosocial markers to improve risk prediction and support targeted prevention strategies.

    F. Vahid, V. Stopa, L. Malisoux, et al., “ Established and Emerging Biomarkers to Characterize Persons at Risk for Obesity—Paving the Way for Targeted Clinical Intervention Trials—A Comprehensive Position Paper,” Obesity Reviews (2026): e70175, https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.70175

  • THE CASE FOR PRIMARY PREVENTION OF OBESITY IN THE ERA OF GLP-1 THERAPIES

    This viewpoint argues that the rise of GLP-1 therapies should reinforce, not replace, the need for primary obesity prevention. While these medications improve outcomes for individuals, they do not address the environmental, social, and commercial drivers of obesity. The authors call for sustained investment in prevention policies alongside equitable access to effective treatments.

    Holm, S., Tena-Sempere, M., Koutsouris, D., Dedoussis, G. V., Wagner, K.-H., Arranz, S., Froguel, P., Bohn, T., Oliveira, P. J., & Lakerveld, J., on behalf of OBEClust. (2026). The case for primary prevention of obesity in the era of GLP-1 therapies. The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, 101679. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2026.101679

  • RECOMMENDER SYSTEMS FOR OBESITY PREVENTION: SCOPING REVIEW OF REVIEWS

    This scoping review synthesises evidence from 10 systematic reviews on recommender systems for obesity prevention. It highlights their growing use to support healthier dietary and lifestyle choices while identifying significant gaps in effectiveness, evaluation methods, and reporting. The authors call for more rigorous, user-centred research to strengthen the evidence base for these digital health tools.

    De Santis, K. K., Stiens, L., Christianson, L., & Forberger, S. (2025). Recommender systems for obesity prevention: Scoping review of reviews. SAGE Open Medicine, 13. doi:10.1177/20503121251348374

  • PM-EKF: A PHYSIOLOGICAL MODEL-BASED EXTENDED KALMAN FILTER FOR DAILY-LIFE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ENERGY EXPENDITURE ESTIMATION

    This paper presents PM-EKF, a new physiology-based method that combines wearable sensor data and an Extended Kalman Filter to estimate physical activity energy expenditure in daily life. Unlike many black-box AI approaches, it provides more interpretable and personalized estimates and showed better performance than traditional regression and deep learning models.

    Que, S., Poelarends, R., Breschi, V., & Wang, Y. (2026). PM-EKF: A physiological model-based extended Kalman filter for daily-life physical activity energy expenditure estimation (arXiv:2604.26803). arXiv.

  • EMPOWERING HEALTHY LIFESTYLE BEHAVIOUR THROUGH PERSONALISED INTERVENTION PORTFOLIOS USING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE RECOMMENDER SYSTEM TO PREVENT AND CONTROL OBESITY IN OLDER ADULTS: PILOT STUDY PROTOCOLS FROM THE HEALTHYW8 PROJECT

    This paper describes seven pilot studies within the HealthyW8 project that will test a personalized digital platform (HLRS) designed to promote healthier lifestyles among older adults with overweight. Across four European countries, the studies will evaluate usability, engagement, and user satisfaction with tailored recommendations on nutrition, physical activity, and emotional well-being.

    Vahid F, Loyola-Leyva A, Bouzas C, et al. Empowering healthy lifestyle behaviour through personalised intervention portfolios using a healthy lifestyle recommender system to prevent and control obesity in older adults: pilot study protocols from the HealthyW8 project. BMJ Open 2026;16:e108771. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-108771

  • Estimating the hospitalisation burden of obesity in Europe: evidence from the European health interview survey (EHIS) wave 3

    This study examines the impact of obesity on hospital use and healthcare costs across eight European countries, showing that obesity is associated with longer hospital stays and higher healthcare expenditure. It also highlights that even small reductions in obesity prevalence could lead to substantial savings for healthcare systems, underlining the importance of prevention strategies and the promotion of healthier lifestyles across Europe.

    Mustapa, M.A.C., Larvoe, N., El Ghoch, M. et al. Estimating the hospitalisation burden of obesity in Europe: evidence from the European health interview survey (EHIS) wave 3. BMC Public Health 26, 871 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-26705-w

  • Collaborative Development of Obesity Intervention Strategies and Digital Tools in Denmark

    This study used a participatory workshop approach to co-develop obesity prevention strategies and digital solutions with stakeholders and end users in Denmark. It shows that user engagement and digital innovation help address the social complexity of obesity. The co-created outcomes provide practical, evidence-based insights for policymakers, health practitioners, and developers.

    D’Ulizia, Arianna, D’Andrea, Alessia, Antonelli, Carlotta, Davydova, Aleksandra, Andersen, Rikke, Ravn-Haren, Gitte, Collaborative Development of Obesity Intervention Strategies and Digital Tools in Denmark, Health & Social Care in the Community, 2025, 7834710, 16 pages, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1155/hsc/7834710

  • Multimodal (Bio)Markers and Risk of Obesity – A Comprehensive Scoping Review

    This scoping review explores multimodal biomarkers for predicting obesity risk. It emphasizes integrated biological, behavioral, psychological, and gut microbiota factors over single markers. Advances in multiomics and machine learning are highlighted. The review discusses future applications in obesity prevention and clinical research.

    Farhad Vahid, Alejandra Loyola-Leyva, Josep Tur, Cristina Bouzas, Yvan Devaux, Laurent Malisoux, Silvia Garcia, Magali De Carvalho, Torsten Boh, et al. Multimodal (Bio)Markers and Risk of Obesity – A Comprehensive Scoping Review, Advances in Nutrition, 2025, 100579, ISSN 2161-8313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advnut.2025.100579

  • Empowering Healthy Lifestyle Behavior Through Personalized Intervention Portfolios Using a Healthy Lifestyle Recommender System to Prevent and Control Obesity in Young Adults: Pilot Study Protocol from the HealthyW8 Project

    This paper presents the study protocol for a multi-country European pilot evaluating the HealthyW8 Healthy Lifestyle Recommender System (HLRS), a personalized digital intervention combining mobile health tools, wearables, and gamification to support sustainable lifestyle behaviour change and help prevent and control obesity in young adults.

    García, S.; Ródenas-Munar, M.; Bohn, T.; Kemperman, A.; Rodrigues, D.; Evers, S.; Lamy, E.; Pérez-Jiménez, M.; Forberger, S.; Onorati, M.G.; et al. Empowering Healthy Lifestyle Behavior Through Personalized Intervention Portfolios Using a Healthy Lifestyle Recommender System to Prevent and Control Obesity in Young Adults: Pilot Study Protocol from the HealthyW8 Project. J. Pers. Med. 2025, 15, 625. https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm15120625

  • Co-design of technological tools and co-creation of intervention strategies to promote a healthy lifestyle: an Italian case study

    This paper presents the Italian case study from the HealthyW8 project, detailing participatory workshops held in 2023–2024. It explores the co-design of digital tools and intervention strategies to promote healthy lifestyles, using design thinking and user-centred approaches. The study highlights locally grounded, multi-stakeholder collaboration in public health innovation.

    D’Andrea, A., D’Ulizia, A., Antonelli, C., Dionisio, P., Stecchi, M. and Brodosi, L. (2025), "Co-design of technological tools and co-creation of intervention strategies to promote a healthy lifestyle: an Italian case study", Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/JICES-01-2025-0015