Evidence mapPaperPMID 42320970Full record

ArticleBMJ open2026

Adolescent perspectives on the barriers and facilitators of engagement in healthy lifestyle behaviours: a focus group study from the European SEEDS project.

Annemieke Wargers, Amandine Senequier, Christopher M Elphick, Famke J M Mölenberg, Craig A Williams, Elisabet Llauradó, Rosa Solà, Yannis Manios, Christina Mavrogianni, Claire Murray and 2 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT05002049 (Science Engagement to Empower Disadvantaged adoleScents), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT05002049 nacompletednot on this map

Science Engagement to Empower Disadvantaged adoleScents (SEEDS Project)

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity Rovira i VirgiliRan2021 to 2022Enrolled720ConditionsHealthy LifestyleArmsIntervention Group
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Annemieke WargersDepartment of Public Health, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3389-8681
Amandine SenequierDepartment of Public Health and Sports Science, University of Exeter, Children's Health and Exercise Research Centre, Exeter, UK.
Christopher M ElphickDepartment of Public Health and Sports Science, University of Exeter, Children's Health and Exercise Research Centre, Exeter, UK.
Famke J M MölenbergDepartment of Public Health, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5305-9730
Craig A WilliamsDepartment of Public Health and Sports Science, University of Exeter, Children's Health and Exercise Research Centre, Exeter, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1740-6248
Elisabet LlauradóInstitut d'Investigacio Sanitaria Pere Virgili, Reus, Catalonia, Spain.
Rosa SolàInstitut d'Investigacio Sanitaria Pere Virgili, Reus, Catalonia, Spain.
Yannis ManiosDepartment of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University of Athens, School of Health Science and Education, Athens, Attica, Greece.
Christina MavrogianniDepartment of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University of Athens, School of Health Science and Education, Athens, Attica, Greece.
Claire MurrayEuropean Citizen Science Assocation, Berlin, Germany.
Wilma JansenDepartment of Public Health, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Dimitris VlachopoulosDepartment of Public Health and Sports Science, University of Exeter, Children's Health and Exercise Research Centre, Exeter, UK D.Vlachopoulos@exeter.ac.uk.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAdolescent obesity is increasing worldwide, and a minority of adolescents are meeting recommended physical activity (PA) and dietary guidelines, particularly among adolescents from low socioeconomic areas. There are limited studies qualitatively investigating the engagement in healthy lifestyle behaviours in this population. Therefore, this study aimed to gain a greater understanding of perceived barriers and facilitators of healthy lifestyle behaviours, specifically PA and dietary behaviours, in this under-represented population.

methodsEight semistructured qualitative focus groups with 35 adolescents aged 13-15 years old were conducted across four European countries (Spain, the Netherlands, Greece, UK) following the Theory of Planned Behaviour framework which states that individual behavioural intentions are grounded on attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control. Discussions were centred on adolescents' PA and healthy eating behaviours and were thematically analysed.

resultsRegarding attitudes, adolescents understood the importance of healthy lifestyle behaviours but often failed to engage in them. Concerning subjective norms, friends and peers were perceived as barriers to PA, except during physical education (PE) classes. Positive relationships between pupils and teachers facilitated PA, and family influence primarily affected dietary behaviours. Regarding perceived behavioural control, the school structures including lack of space and time, as well as limited healthy food options in canteens and the COVID-19 pandemic were barriers to healthy lifestyle behaviours, while mandatory PE classes and school clubs facilitated PA.

conclusionsIn conclusion, despite adolescents recognising the significance of healthy lifestyle behaviours they often fail to engage in them. Their healthy lifestyle behaviours were influenced by their friends, families and teachers. The school structure and the COVID-19 pandemic were considered barriers to healthy lifestyle behaviours among adolescents. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05002049.

Indexed as

Adolescent BehaviorCOVID-19ExerciseHealth BehaviorHealthy LifestylePediatric ObesityAdolescentDiet, HealthyFemaleFocus GroupsGreeceHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHumansMaleNetherlandsQualitative ResearchAdolescentBehaviorNUTRITION & DIETETICS

Identifiers

PMID42320970
PMCPMC13288682

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.