New study giving more young people the opportunity to take part in research
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A new study has launched for young people through the North West London Schools Research Network, exploring diet and eating behaviours through early adulthood.
The Diet and Eating Behaviours across Early Adult Transitions (DEBEAT) study is focusing on the transition out of secondary school to understand how changes in social environments, local food environments and economic factors impact diet and eating behaviours over this period.
The study will recruit 1,500 adolescents in the last year of a participating sixth form or college, who are aged 17 to 18. Data will be collected over the course of a year from those who take part.
The aim is to understand more about the changing influences and constraints which young adults experience, and how these may be related to the food they eat and their long-term health.
"We look forward to growing on this success."
The North West London Schools Research Network is a collaboration between schools across the region and four local organisations:
- NIHR Clinical Research Network North West London
- Imperial College London
- Listen To Act
- NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Northwest London
So far more than 60 schools have joined the Network to offer research opportunities to their students, and more than 2,300 students have participated in studies.
Antoinette McNulty, who leads the Schools Research Network, said: "Despite the pressures on schools, we are delighted that so many have engaged in research and so many young people have participated in research studies that were relevant to them. We look forward to growing on this success."
Find out more about the DEBEAT study and the Schools Research Network.