Follow-up I.FAMILY

Determinants of eating behaviour in European children, adolescents and their parents (I.Family)

Why do young people in Europe eat the way they do? What are the reasons behind their eating habits and choice of foods? Many factors are at play. Family time and influence are challenged by modern independent lifestyles. Processed foods, drinks and snacks are readily available. Marketing and peer pressures, accompanied by screen-based distractions that can replace physical activity, all play their part, under-pinned by learnt taste preferences and genetic predispositions.

The I.Family study -Determinants of eating behaviour in European children, adolescents and their parents-  builds on data collected from over 10,000 children under 10 years of age in the IDEFICS Study as they move into adolescence and will provide further insight into the most important influences on Europe's young people, their lifestyle behaviour and their eating habits. I.Family will do this by re-assessing IDEFICS children and their families, identifying those families that have adopted a healthy approach to food and eating habits and those who have not. The project will help us understand the biological, behavioural, social and environmental factors that drive dietary behaviour as children journey towards adulthood.

This EC funded research started in March 2013 and ended in February 2017.

Visit the I.Family website and learn more about this study:

http://www.ifamilystudy.eu

View or Download the I.Family Study brochure for more information

Following article describes the study design of the I.Family project, and how it extends the IDEFICS research:

Ahrens W, Siani A, Adan R, De Henauw S, Eiben G, Gwozdz W, et al. Cohort Profile: The transition from childhood to adolescence in European children-how I.Family extends the IDEFICS cohort. Int J Epidemiol. 2016:dyw317-dyw.