Healthy You!

Have you ever tried to break a bad habit? Or have you ever struggled to stick to a health goal? What can inspire you to live a healthier life? Discover with us what you can and want to do within your life and environment to build a healthier lifestyle.

What aree we working on?

More and more people find it difficult to live healthily, and the number of people with health problems is increasing. There are many technological tools that can help people build a healthy lifestyle, such as fitness watches or apps on their phones. Unfortunately, these tools are not always easy for everyone to use in a way that works for them. For many, it’s challenging to turn a set number of steps or a heart rate into meaningful information that can actually improve their health.

Could this be done differently?

People have different views on health and prioritize different things. That’s why we are asking: How can your values and environment be better utilized to live a healthier life?

What do we ask of you?

When you participate in this study, you will cycle 3 laps of 4 km on an electric bike. A researcher will measure this. For the first lap, you will cycle as you normally would. For the second and third laps, you will cycle with a warning system that can alert you to certain situations in different ways. For example, you will wear special gloves that give a vibration signal when it is necessary to slow down due to a dangerous situation. After cycling, you will complete a questionnaire. The study lasts about one hour. The route starts at the Citadel building at the University of Twente and goes through the Twekkelerveld.

If you want to participate, here are the 3 steps you can expect:

1. Preparation – 1.5 hours
   Together, we will come up with health activities that fit your life. We will look at what is important in your life and what your health interests are. This will be done through a small activity, a questionnaire, and a conversation.
2. Trying it out – 3 months
   You will try out what works for your life over the course of 3 months and see if the steps you’ve planned help you feel healthier.
3. Review – 3 times 1 hour
   During the 3 months, we will review at 3 different moments how you feel about the health activities and whether they fit into your life. This will be done through a conversation and a short questionnaire.

We can meet at a location that works best for you. This could be in your neighborhood or at the University of Twente. In total, the participation will last about 3.5 months.

What the health activity involves is entirely up to you, based on what is important and achievable for you. You decide what activity contributes to your well-being and health. It could be taking a walk with a neighbor, having a volunteer conversation, running, or quitting smoking. You make the choice, and we will guide you towards that decision.

Who can join and when?

It is important to us that you enjoy participating in the study. We are looking for people who want to work on their health in any way. Your age or fitness level is not so important to us. What matters most is that you have the motivation and curiosity to work on your health in an accessible way.

You can sign up individually or as part of a small group (around 5 people).

We are looking for participants from the North-East Netherlands region. However, if you live elsewhere, that is also not a problem. Ultimately, we want to contribute to the well-being of people across the whole of the Netherlands.

Extra information

As a thank you for sharing your time and knowledge, you will receive a small compensation.

Maak kennis met de onderzoeker

Registration for this study is no longer possible.

We have found enough participants for this phase of the research. If you would like to stay informed about new studies at the University of Twente, you can sign up here.

• Participation in scientific research is always voluntary.
• When you sign up for a study, you will always receive an automatic confirmation email. This email will let you know when to expect to hear from the researcher.
• An ethics committee has reviewed this research and given a positive recommendation. This means that the study is scientifically rigorous and conducted in accordance with participants' rights.
• Your contact details will only be used as you have specified. We will only share your information with the researcher of the study you wish to participate in.
• If you have indicated that you would like to stay informed about new studies, you will receive a message no more than once per month. If this changes, we will contact you first.
• Read here in detail how we handle personal data.