With support from the Lundberg Research Foundation, they have received 1.9 million SEK to develop measurement methods and personalized advice. The research focuses on measuring physical activity and energy intake at the individual level, aiming to provide more precise and tailored advice to help people achieve a healthier lifestyle.
– The research at the Center for Lifestyle Intervention, where the Department of Food and Nutrition, and Sport Science participates, and the collaboration with GoCo Health Innovation City provide the opportunity to develop more individualized advice and support for a more physically active lifestyle and healthy diet, as well as more sustainable energy intake for athletes. It combines pedagogy and health, as well as the fields of nutrition and sports science, says Daniel Arvidsson, Associate Professor in Public Health Science at the Department of Food and Nutrition, and Sport Science.
More Personalized Advice is Needed
Changes in diet and physical activity are crucial for reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and other related health problems. However, it is difficult to get accurate data on a person's actual behaviors, as we tend to overestimate our physical activity and underestimate sedentary behavior. Therefore, the researchers are using the advanced doubly labeled water method. By analyzing how the body uses energy under normal circumstances, they can determine a person's actual energy expenditure and thereby their need for diet and exercise advice. This allows for a much higher degree of personalization, which the researchers believe is key to successful long-term behavior change.
– The more we can personalize the advice, the better adherence we get. Every individual has their own conditions and preferences, which require more personal counselling, says Daniel Arvidsson.
Collaboration to Improve Public Health
To conduct their studies, the researchers have received funding to purchase a mass spectrometer, an instrument essential for analyzing samples from the doubly labeled water method. This will be placed in a new laboratory at GoCo Health Innovation City in Mölndal, a research environment under construction that is expected to be completed by 2026.
The laboratory will serve as a platform to combine research in food, nutrition, exercise, and physiology, and to create innovative solutions to promote preventive healthcare. The project, which involves collaborations with Chalmers' food researchers, aims to improve public health and give athletes the best possible conditions to perform optimally without injury.
Strengthening Competence in Healthcare
Mats Börjesson and Daniel Arvidsson hope their research will not only lead to better health advice for individuals but also help strengthen healthcare's competence in providing advice on diet and physical activity. Currently, this advice is often given by physiotherapists, nurses, or doctors, who may not always have the specialized expertise needed to support long-term behavior change. Therefore, the researchers emphasize the need for more health promoters in healthcare—professionals who specialize in behavior change and can help individuals make lasting lifestyle changes, ultimately reducing the incidence of lifestyle-related diseases in society.
Ragnhild Larsson
