Policy evaluation network - Public policies addressing health-related behaviours in Europe

Description

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of global mortality, responsible for 41 million deaths each year. Successful policy actions to address physical inactivity, unhealthy diets, and sedentary behaviour have the potential to influence the health and well-being of an entire population. At the public policy level, actions must be initiated, coordinated, and implemented to improve opportunities for the entire population to engage in healthier physical activity and diet.

As part of the Joint Programming Initiative on a Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life (JPI HDHL, www.healthydietforhealthylife.eu), 28 research institutes from seven European countries and New Zealand have combined their expertise to form a Policy Evaluation Network (PEN). PEN aimed at providing tools to identify, evaluate and benchmark policies in Europe that directly or indirectly address physical inactivity, unhealthy diets, and sedentary behaviour, taking into account existing health inequalities.

The PEN project ended in July 2022 after a six-month extension. PEN met and exceeded its objectives through a series of consortium-wide activities, network meetings, presentations at (inter)national conferences, and capacity-building workshops with policy makers. PEN researchers published the first EU Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI) for Europe and the first Physical Activity Environment Policy Index (PA-EPI). A set of Selected Instruments for Multilevel PoLicy and impact Evaluation (SIMPLE) modules for physical activity and diet was developed to continue the data harmonization process across Europe. An expert-led Methodologic Competence Platform was created to guide and support this ongoing process. The network also created simulation models, applied multiple research designs, and used innovative online research methods to produce more than 50 peer-reviewed publications. These include meta-, systematic- and narrative-reviews that advance, summarize, and consolidate the latest evidence on policy determinants, frameworks, instruments, and research methods. PEN further improved our understanding of the unintended impact of policies on low-income individuals. With a particular focus on early career professionals, PEN encouraged changes within JPI programmes that promote mentoring opportunities within an Early Career Network.

Organized by PEN, the H2020 CO-CREATE and STOP projects and the Best-ReMaP Joint Action, the Policy Symposium on NCDs prevention in Brussels (June 2022), culminated in a Call To Action outlining key policy, research, and funding priorities for obesity prevention:
https://www.jpi-pen.eu/images/reports/Policy_Symposium_Final_Statement_Oct2022.pdf

In summary, PEN has presented a comprehensive roadmap for improving health promotion and prevention policies for NCDs, including obesity.

Funding period

Begin:   February 2019
End:   July 2022

Sponsor

  • Federal Ministry of Education and Research

Contact

Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Wolfgang Ahrens

Link

Project website

Selected project-related publications

    Articles with peer-review

  • Ahrens W, Brenner H, Flechtner-Mors M, Harrington JM, Hebestreit A, Kamphuis C, Kelly L, Laxy M, Luszczynska A, Mazzocchi M, Murrin C, Poelman M, Steenhuis I, Roos G, Steinacker J, van Lenthe FJ, Zeeb H, Zukowska J, Lakerveld J, Woods C, on behalf of the PEN consortium. Dietary behaviour and physical activity policies in Europe: Learnings from the Policy Evaluation Network (PEN). European Journal of Public Health. 2022;32(Suppl. 4):iv114-iv125.
    https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckac148
  • Forberger S, Reisch LA, Meshkovska B, Lobczowska K, Scheller D, Wendt J, Christianson L, Frense J, Steinacker J, Luszczynska A, Zeeb H, on behalf of the PEN consortium. Sugar-sweetened beverage tax implementation processes: Results of a scoping review. Health Research Policy and Systems. 2022;20:33.
    https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-022-00832-3
  • Forberger S, Reisch LA, Meshkovska B, Lobczowska K, Scheller D, Wendt J, Christianson L, Frense J, Steinacker J, Woods C, Luszczynska A, Zeeb H, on behalf of the PEN consortium. What we know about the actual implementation process of public physical activity policies: Results from a scoping review. European Journal of Public Health. 2022;32(Suppl. 4):iv59-iv65.
    https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckac089
  • Hebestreit A, Do S, Wolters M, Mensink GBM, Rosas LG, Abu Omar K, Messing S, Neumann-Podczaska A, Wieczorowska-Tobis K, Lien N, Stanley I, Ahrens W, Murrin C, on behalf of the PEN consortium. Towards a harmonized European surveillance for dietary and physical activity indicators in young and adult populations. European Journal of Public Health. 2022;32(Suppl. 4):iv21-iv31.
    https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckac061
  • Messing S, Forberger S, Woods C, Abu-Omar K, Gelius P. Politik zur Bewegungsförderung in Deutschland: Eine Analyse anhand eines Policy-Audit-Tools der Weltgesundheitsorganisation. Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz. 2022;65(1):107-115.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/s00103-021-03403-z
  • von Philipsborn P, Geffert K, Klinger C, Hebestreit A, Stratil J, Rehfuess E, on behalf of the PEN consortium. Nutrition policies in Germany: A systematic assessment with the Food Environment Policy Index. Public Health Nutrition. 2022;25(6):1691-1700.
    https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980021004742
  • Woods C, Kelly L, Volf K, Gelius P, Messing S, Forberger S, Lakerveld J, den Braver NR, Zukowska J, García Bengoechea E, on behalf of the PEN consortium. The Physical Activity Environment Policy Index for monitoring government policies and actions to improve physical activity. European Journal of Public Health. 2022;32(Suppl. 4):iv50-iv58.
    https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckac062
  • Gelius P, Messing S, Forberger S, Lakerveld J, Mansergh F, Wendel-Vos W, Zukowska J, Woods C, on behalf of the PEN consortium. The added value of using the HEPA PAT for physical activity policy monitoring: A four-country comparison. Health Research Policy and Systems. 2021;19:22.
    https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-021-00681-6
  • Klinger C, Geffert K, Hebestreit A, Rehfuess E, von Philipsborn P. Schaffung gesunder Ernährungsumfelder: Ergebnisse des Food-EPI. Public Health Forum. 2021;29(4):315-318.
    https://doi.org/10.1515/pubhef-2021-0088
  • Woods CB, Volf K, Kelly L, Casey B, Gelius P, Messing S, Forberger S, Lakerveld J, Zukowska J, García Bengoechea E. The evidence for the impact of policy on physical activity outcomes within the school setting: A systematic review. Journal of Sport and Health Science. 2021;10(3):263-276.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2021.01.006
  • Lakerveld J, Woods C, Hebestreit A, Brenner H, Flechtner-Mors M, Harrington JM, Kamphuis C, Laxy M, Luszczynska A, Mazzocchi M, Murrin CM, Poelman M, Steenhuis I, Roos G, Steinacker J, Stock C, van Lenthe FJ, Zeeb H, Zukowska J, Ahrens W, on behalf of the PEN consortium. Advancing the evidence base for public policies impacting on dietary behaviour, physical activity and sedentary behaviour in Europe: The Policy Evaluation Network promoting a multidisciplinary approach. Food Policy. 2020;96:101873.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2020.101873
  • Zähringer J, Schwingshackl L, Movsisyan A, Stratil J, Capacci S, Steinacker J, Forberger S, Ahrens W, Küllenberg de Gaudry D, Schünemann H, Meerpohl JJ, on behalf of the PEN consortium. Use of the GRADE approach in health policymaking and evaluation: A scoping review of nutrition and physical activity policies. Implementation Science. 2020;15:37.
    https://doi.org/10.1186/s13012-020-00984-2
  • Hebestreit A, Thumann B, Wolters M, Bucksch J, Huybrechts I, Inchley J, Lange C, Lien N, Manz K, Slimani N, van der Ploeg H, Ahrens W, on behalf of the DEDIPAC consortium. Road map towards a harmonized pan-European surveillance of obesity-related lifestyle behaviours and their determinants in children and adolescents. International Journal of Public Health. 2019;64(4):615-623.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-019-01227-y

    • Presentations at scientific meetings/conferences (invited)

  • Ahrens W, on behalf of the PEN consortium. The PEN project: Results and future perspectives. JPI Management Board Meeting, 20-21 October 2022, online presentation.
  • Ahrens W, Woods C, on behalf of the PEN consortium. Evaluation of policy measures to promote a healthy diet and physical activity. STOP - BestReMap Stakeholder Dialogue, 3-5 October 2022, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
  • Hebestreit A. Etablierung eines gesamteuropäischen Monitoring- und Surveillance Systems zur Gesundheitsüberwachung in jungen und erwachsenen Bevölkerungsgruppen. Seminarreihe Epidemiologie und Biostatistik des Universitätsklinikums Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 28. Januar 2022, Online-Vortrag.
  • Ahrens W. Surveillance and policy evaluation. Joint Conference between STOP & Joint Action Best-ReMaP on Policy Solutions for Childhood Obesity, 17-18 November 2021, online presentation.
  • Hebestreit A. Practice examples from EU surveillance systems - Approaches for harmonisation. The WHO/Europe training course on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs): Surveillance, implementation and evaluation, 30 September 2021, online presentation.
  • Hebestreit A. Aus den Nähten geplatzt - Herausforderungen an unsere Ernährungssysteme. 15. Bremer Ernährungsmedizinisches Forum, 23. Juni 2021, Online-Vortrag.
  • Hebestreit A. Herausforderungen an die Kinder- und Jugendgesundheit in Europa. Jubiläumsveranstaltung 10 Jahre Kinder- und Jugendgesundheitsstrategie des Bundesministeriums für Arbeit, Soziales, Gesundheit und Konsumentenschutz (BMASGK) Österreich, 9. November 2021, Online-Vortrag.
  • Ahrens W, Woods C, Lakerveld J. Policy Evaluation Network (PEN) - Public policies addressing health-related behaviours in Europe. Meeting of the STOP General Assembly & Steering Committee, 19-21 June 2019, Paris.
  • Forberger S, Zeeb H, Gelius P, Messing S. Erfassung der Bewegungsförderungspolitik der Bundesländer. 171. Sportreferentenkonferenz, 11.-12. September 2019, Bremen.
  • Ahrens W, on behalf of the DEDIPAC consortium. Determinants of Diet and Physical Activity Knowledge Hub - Accomplishments. BMBF Fachgespräch zur Forschungsagenda der JPI HDHL, 27. Juni 2018, Berlin.
  • Ahrens W, Woods C, Lakerveld J, on behalf of the PEN consortium. PEN - Public policies addressing health-related behaviours in Europe, ERA-HDHL Joint Funding Action. Kick-off-Meeting for Co-Create, 27-28 June 2018, Oslo, Norway.
  • Ahrens W, Woods C, Lakerveld J, on behalf of the PEN consortium. PEN - Public policies addressing health-related behaviours in Europe, ERA-HDHL Joint Funding Action. BMBF Fachgespräch zur Forschungsagenda der JPI HDHL, 27. Juni 2018, Berlin.

    • Presentations at scientific meetings/conferences

  • Hebestreit A, Do S, Wolters M, Mensink GBM, Abu Omar K, Messing S, Neumann-Podczaska A, Wieczorowska-Tobis K, Ahrens W, Murrin C. Harmonizing indicators of diet and physical activity to monitor obesity in pan-European surveillance. 30th European Congress on Obesity, 17-20 May 2023, Dublin, Ireland.
  • Forberger S, on behalf of the PEN consortium. Evaluation of policy measures to promote a healthy diet and physical activity - The PEN project. 21st Annual Meeting of the International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA), 18-21 May 2022, Phoenix, USA.
  • Forberger S, Reisch LA, Meshkovska B, Lobczowska K, Banik A, Wendt J, Mueller-Stierlin A, Steinacker J, Luszczynska A, Zeeb H. Much in common and yet different: Intervention and public policy implementation evaluation - Results from the PEN project using the example of physical activity and nutrition. Policy Symposium on NCD Prevention "Future Directions for Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies to Prevent NCDs Across Europe," 14-16 June 2022, Brussels, Belgium.
  • Hebestreit A, Do S, Wolters M, Mensink GBM, Garnica Rosas L, Abu Omar K, Messing S, Neumann-Podczaska A, Wieczorowska-Tobis K, Lien N, Stanley I, Ahrens W, Murrin C. Surveillance and monitoring - A central role in the harmonization process: The Methodological Competence Platform. Policy Symposium on NCD Prevention "Future Directions for Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies to Prevent NCDs Across Europe," 14-16 June 2022, Brussels, Belgium.
  • Hebestreit A, Do S, Wolters M, Mensink GBM, Garnica Rosas L, Abu Omar K, Messing S, Neumann-Podczaska A, Wieczorowska-Tobis K, Lien N, Stanley I, Ahrens W, Murrin C, on behalf of the PEN consortium. Towards a harmonized pan-European surveillance for dietary and physical activity indicators. Policy Symposium on NCD Prevention "Future Directions for Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies to Prevent NCDs Across Europe," 14-16 June 2022, Brussels, Belgium.
  • Hebestreit A, Mensink GBM, Abu Omar K, Ahrens W, Murrin C. Better data to assess policy impact - Obtaining harmonized indicators of diet and physical activity behaviours and their determinants by pan-European surveillance. 15th European Public Health Conference (EPH), 9-12 November 2022, Berlin.
  • Forberger S, Reisch LA, Meshkovska B, Lobczowska K, Scheller D, Wendt J, Christianson L, Frense J, Steinacker J, Luszczynska A, Zeeb H. Implementation processes of sugar-sweetened beverage taxes. ISBNPA XChange Initiative, 8-10 June 2021, online presentation.
  • Forberger S, Reisch LA, Meshkovska B, Lobczowska K, Scheller D, Wendt J, Christianson L, Frense J, Steinacker J, Luszczynska A, Zeeb H. Implementation pathways of public physical activity policies. 8th International Society for Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH), 12-14 October 2021, online presentation.
  • Luszczynska A, Banik A, Forberger S, Kaczmarek K, Kubiak T, Neumann-Podczaska A, Romaniuk P, Scheidmeir M, Scheller D, Steinacker J, Wendt J, Bekker MPM, Zeeb H. Socioeconomic, political and geographical context determinants of implementation of policies promoting physical activity: A meta-review. ISBNPA XChange Initiative, 8-10 June 2021, online presentation.
  • Ahrens W, on behalf of the PEN consortium. Evaluation of policy measures to promote a healthy diet and physical activity - The PEN project. 16th World Congress on Public Health, 12-16 October 2020, online presentation.
  • Do S, Murrin CM, Hebestreit A. Key indicators for harmonized European population health surveillance: An iterative approach. 16th World Congress on Public Health, 12-16 October 2020, online presentation.
  • Ahrens W, Woods C, Lakerveld J. PEN - Policy Evaluation Network: Expert workshop on surveillance indicators (WP2). Policy Evaluation Network (PEN) Expert Workshop, 26-27 September 2019, Berlin.