PhD defence M. (Mirte) Boelens

Dissertation in short:

Public health and health promotion can be employed at international, national, regional and local levels. Particularly local governmental bodies such as municipalities play an increasingly important role in promoting the health and well-being of children and adolescents and in reducing health inequalities. Local governmental bodies can play an important role in reducing mental health problems, overweight/obesity and socioeconomic inequalities in health by implementing preventive policies, policy programs or interventions. How exactly local public health can promote the health and well-being of children and adolescents relies partly on the available knowledge.

Research is important for designing and implementing effective interventions, policies and policy programs at the local level. First, research to the health, and well-being and to protective and risk factors for certain health outcomes is important. Second, research evaluating the effectiveness and process of implementation, effective elements of interventions, policies and policy programs is also needed.

This thesis contributes to the knowledge of health and well-being of children and adolescents by studying potential target populations, by investigating health outcomes and their risk and preventive factors and by evaluating local interventions and programs to promote healthy lifestyles, health and well-being in children and adolescents.