Main findings

A main aspect of the IDEFICS project consisted in the elaboration of evidence-based guidelines on  preventing  diet-  and  lifestyle-related  diseases  for  different  groups  (consumers,  channels, policy makers). The specific recommendations relate to consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks and of fruit and vegetables, physical activity, screen time, well-being and sleep duration. These guidelines have three potential aims and levels:

  • targeted to professionals, formulating the state of the art in a way easily implemented in professional practice (mainly for professionals of health and educational system);
  • targeted to lay populations, translating nutrients to foods, thus directing people in the simplest way to certain basic nutritional knowledge;
  • targeted to the media with easily understandable messages, aiming to balance messages from the food industry and contributing to the remodelling of public opinion.

The simple but evidence-based messages from the IDEFICS study can easily be incorporated in any kind of preventive efforts or intervention programmes. In this page we describe the recommendations of the IDEFICS study, as well as main results in the different areas of this study:

  • Eating behaviour
    • Fruit and vegetable consumption
    • Sweetened drinks
    • Taste
  • Physical activity & sedentary behaviour
    • Physical activity
    • Screen time
  • Well-being
  • Sleeping habits
  • Weight status & cardiometabolic health