2 general objectives :
A. Assess the type 2 diabetes risk in European populations;
B. Implementation and evaluation of a lifestyle intervention programme to prevent type 2 diabetes in high-risk individuals.
More than half of the European population will suffer from hyperglycaemia and diabetes (T2D) during life. The risk factors are known: obesity, central adiposity, physical inactivity and excess calories intake. The prognosis of T2D is characterized by the development of complications and with them T2D is one of the most devastating disease giving a rise to excessive rates of heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, renal disease, eye diseases, many neurological and mental problems. Due to this T2D is a major cause of morbidity and the high CVD risk contributes significantly to premature mortality in all European countries. Thus, the most efficient way to manage T2D and its complications is to prevent diabetes from developing. Fortunately, a Finnish landmark study, confirmed by a US study, proved that lifestyle interventions and modification can significantly reduce the onset of T2D for 58% in high risk subjects. While these findings offer a compelling evidence-base for the translation of the findings into community-based prevention strategies, it is necessary to learn how the prevention of T2D works in reality and to find out the extent to which the prevention of T2D can reduce direct and indirect medical care and non- medical costs due to the disease. T2D prevention may help in solving parts of the economic crisis of European health care systems. This project aimed at addressing the development of national community-based T2D prevention programmes systematically throughout European countries. Therefore the objectives for the proposed project were to assess the T2D risk in European populations and implement and evaluate a lifestyle intervention programme to prevent T2D in high-risk individuals. Fulfilling these objectives helped to improve knowledge of public health in Europe. While the intervention promoted healthy lifestyle in order to prevent T2D, many important health determinants were addressed with the activities that were realized.
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The overall objective of the project is to foster adoption of healthy life styles among children in primary schools in urban areas of Croatia and Slovenia. This will be achieved through development and implementation of the innovative programme for health promotion (Healthy Eco Life programme). The idea is to test innovative approaches in health promotion in one candidate country and in one member state to compare the effects of proposed programme in countries with different social and cultural backgrounds as well as economic development levels. Methodology of the programme will be based on EU best practices in health promotion but complemented with ecological awareness aspect of the health. Learning about health through interactive group work in classes will be combined with practical lessons provided in natural and rural context. As a main part of the programme the school children from urban areas of Zagreb and Maribor will visit eco-agricultural farms in the rural areas.
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The project aims to identify, qualify and implement good practices in cross-cutting community initiatives to promote health-enhancing physical activity in socio-economically disadvantaged areas. Specific objectives are
* Identification of good practices
* Qualification/valorization of good practices
* Promotion of good practices
* Mobilization of cross-cutting partnerships and networks in physical activity
* Implementation of pilot actions
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The main aim of this project is to provide a central facility for the co-ordinated analysis and synthesis of life and health expectancies: The European Health Expectancy Monitoring Unit (EHEMU). The conjoint analysis of health expectancies with life expectancy adds the quality dimension to the quantity of life lived by the European populations, providing evidence of inequalities between Member States (MS) in terms of health gaps and highlighting potential targets for public health strategies both nationally and at a pan-European level. Health expectancy is one of the structural indicators for the EU sustainable development policy. Previous Community actions have aimed at harmonization of data and the Euro-REVES network has been instrumental in developing instruments in key health domains, where appropriate through consensus meetings with other EU groups. This project is the next step, since valid comparisons between MS require not only harmonized data but also harmonized calculations and analyses.
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