METHODS

The method will be comprised of collecting and describing existing and available data about the most common indicators used for the assessment of the nutrition and health status in Europe in a comparable manner .

The implementation strategy is a simple, feasible four-step process:

1. Selection and definition of nutrition and health indicators to be included in the report:

A questionnaire will be distributed (month 1) to the participating partners to request all information on relevant and available data in their countries. The questionnaire will be based on the experience gained under the European Nutrition and Health Report 2004 and will also consider a combination of 3 European Indicator Lists to select the most relevant indicators: the European Food Consumption Survey Method (EFCOSUM) project, the European Community Health Indicator (ECHI) project and in particular Monitoring Public Health Nutrition in Europe.

At the constitutional meeting (month 2) all of the participants will present the available nutrition and health data in their countries and the coordinating centre will present a summary of the results of the questionnaire.

This information will be used as a basis to discuss and to decide upon the nutrition and health indicators to be collected and consequently included in the final report.

All relevant information of already available and established food and nutrition policies at European and national level that look at primary prevention and health promotion will be taken into account in the compilation of the report. These include:

• EC White Paper on “A Strategy for Europe on Nutrition, Overweight and Obesity related health issues”
• WHO/EURO Second Food and Nutrition Action Plan
• WHO/EURO Istanbul Charter on Obesity Prevention
• WHO/HBSC Cross-national study
• EU directive on food labelling/ nutrient profile

2. Collection of existing published and authorised unpublished data in each participating country:

Nutrition and health data will be collected by the partners in printed and digital form according to the agreed criteria. Data that considers socio-economic information and information on selected key-target groups will be specifically addressed.
The partners will collect data either from their own surveys and publications, or project relevant data from other organisations if necessary. Each partner will compile a short national report in English language.
Data from other sources/ organizations will be used as well, including

• Food Balance Sheets of the FAO
• Household Budget Survey data as harmonized in the DAFNE project (Data Food Networking)
• PANACEA (Physical Activity, Nutrition, Alcohol, Cessation of smoking, Eating out of home And obesity)
• ALPHA (Assessing Levels of Physical Activity in the European Population)
  
• EUROSTAT (health statistics)

3. Comparative evaluation of available data:
One of the main tasks of the participating partners will be the provision of clarifications in describing and analysing the available national data.
In the project emphasis will be placed on the comparability and harmonisation of the available data.
The applicability of the use of raw data for post-harmonisation will be discussed. Preparation/ translation of the data into English language in written form with corresponding tables and figures for data delivery including necessary files and databases for future calculations will be made.

4. Compilation of the final report by the coordinating centre:
The data received will then be compiled and aggregated by calculations into standardised formats by the coordinating centre and finally consolidated and discussed in the final report.