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The validation of the PEGASO platform will assess
the following factors:
System and Technology acceptance, usability
and long-term use: these will be also a
secondary assessment of motivation and
engagement;
Reliability in assessing the teen-agers lifestyles
and their changes (with focus on the eating
habits and on physical activities) and related
efficacy on the sensors’ network system;
Efficacy of the system in encouraging lifestyle
change;
Subjective assessment for awareness;
System’s compliance to Stakeholders’ needs.
The overall PEGASO service framework will be
validated by secondary school students with the
support of their schools and families. The reason for
involving these students as sample population lies on
the assumption that around the age of 14, teen-agers
acquire more independence and have increasingly
the opportunity to select on their own their snacks
and the extra-school activities influenced by what
their friends do. Therefore it is important that at this
stage they become aware of the consequences of an
incorrect eating behaviour and that they perform a
sufficient physical activity.
During the four validation studies that will be
carried out in Italy (Lombardy), Spain (Catalonia)
and United Kingdom (England and Scotland),
PEGASO will take into special consideration the
socioeconomic environment of the selected schools
where the pilot will be run and the involvement of
the students’ families.
Through the pilot PEGASO will demonstrate the
effectiveness of the approach in support of:
discovering at an early stage potential risks of
developing obesity and related comorbidities
and encouraging lifestyle changes by means of
an approach based on social/networked games;
educating teen-agers towards healthier lifestyles
through an approach based on serious games;
and
engaging the educational environment (families
and schools) reinforcing the messages delivered
through physical seminars to teachers and
parents by means of online educational
modules.
5 EXPECTED IMPACT
The strategy proposed by the PEGASO project is
expected to have predictable favourable effects in
reducing overweight/obesity and associated diseases
and social costs in proportion to the national
prevalence of body mass excess in this age class
taking advantage of the possibilities offered by
innovative ICT and of teens’ affection to mobile and
social network.
More specifically the following impact areas will
be addressed:
Enhancing self-awareness of younger people for
health issues, by means of inclusive approach, and
promoting behavioural changes in favour of
physical activity and healthy diets. Reducing the
risks deriving from unhealthy diets and physical
inactivity and increasing awareness and
understanding of the influences of diet and physical
activity on health are the core objectives of the
global strategy dictated by the World Health
Organization (WHO-Diet 2004, WHO-Diet 2006)
against non-communicable disease and changes in
behaviour has been indicated by WHO among the
outcome indicators for assessing actions fostering
such a global strategy. The relationship between
diet, physical activity and health is based on strong
scientific evidence. Studies using motion sensors
have shown that children who spend less time in
physical activity are at higher risk to become obese
during childhood and adolescence (Consensus 2015,
Lobstein 2004).
Preventing juvenile overweight/obesity and
reducing morbidities associated to juvenile
overweight/obesity in the short time, and long term
health consequences, including adult obesity, and
associated medical, social and personal costs.
According with the 2007 report of the EU Public
Health Program Project "Global Report on the Status
of Health in the European Union - EUGLOREH"
(EUGLOREH2007), the number of EU children
affected by overweight and obesity is estimated to
be rising by more than 400,000 a year, adding to the
over 14 million of the EU population who are
already overweight (including at least 3 million
obese children). Overall, across the entire EU,
overweight affects almost 1 out of 4 school age
children/adolescents. Childhood obesity has
physical, psychosocial and economic consequences.
Reducing medical, social and personal costs
associated to juvenile and adult overweight/obesity.
The economic impact of overweight and obesity on
health care and social systems is definitely sizable.
Such an economic burden has been recognized in
terms of direct medical costs, indirect costs, and
intangible costs (Müller-Riemenschneider 2008,
Dent 2010).
Developing a system suitable for interventions
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