E. (Erja) Portegijs
EnRICH-HABITS ´EmpoweRIng Citizens to adopt Healthy lifestyle Habits: A data-enaBled communIty-based ciTizen Science approach´.
Unhealthy diet and physical inactivity increase health risks, while individual interventions often fail to create sustainable changes. This project uses a holistic, social-ecological approach to empower communities to improve lifestyle habits. We combine epidemiological, spatial, and citizen science data to identify risk profiles and create innovative solutions in the Netherlands, Denmark and Latvia. The Hanze University of Applied Sciences, the University of Southern Denmark and Riga Stradins University are project partners, and I am the project coordinator and P.I. of one work package. This project is funded by [ZonMw, Innovation Fund Denmark & Latvian Council of Science] umbrella of ERA4Health Partnership (GA N° 101095426 of Horizon Europe Research & Innovation Programme). https://umcgresearch.org/w/enrich-habits
MoNuMind network for integrated lifestyle and prevention in UMCG
Lifestyle is one of the most important, yet often overlooked, determinants of health especially in the health care setting. Knowledge developed in research does not always translate directly into clinical care. Therefore we created the MoNuMind network (which stands for Movement, Nutrition, and Mind) within the UMCG aiming to facilitate and promote lifestyle research and education by sharing knowledge, building a strong research community, and developing tools that may assist researchers when performing lifestyle related studies. By embedding lifestyle into scientific research and educational programs, we aim to develop more effective prevention strategies and treatments, and to train healthcare professionals to promote healthy living in clinical care. We work closely together with lifestyle initiatives embedded in clinical practice. I am quartermaster for the domain of human movement and physical activity. https://umcgresearch.org/w/monumind
PhD projects
|
Project title |
Name & affiliation |
Supervisory team |
Status |
|
Healthy living as a Service – Healthy humans through lifestyle interventions. |
Rineke Baas, Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Groningen, UMCG, the Netherlands |
Adj. Prof. Erja Portegijs, Prof. Claudine Lamoth, Prof. Michiel Reneman, Prof. Rienk Dekker |
Ongoing |
|
Healthy living as a Service – Healthy cities. |
Noa Schievink, History of Architecture and Urbanism, Faculty of Arts, University of Groningen, the Netherlands |
Prof. Cor Wagenaar, Adj. Prof. Erja Portegijs |
Ongoing |
|
Health Benefits of Green Exercise: A Study on Physical Activity, and Nature. |
Yanzhe Li, Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Groningen, UMCG, the Netherlands |
Prof. Claudine Lamoth, Adj. Prof. Erja Portegijs |
Ongoing |
|
Physical environments, activity destinations and out-of-home mobility in old age. https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/99030
|
Essi-Mari Tuomola, Gerontology & Public Health, University of Jyväskylä, Finland |
Prof. Taina Rantanen, Adj. Prof. Erja Portegijs, Dr. Kirsi Keskinen |
2025 |
|
Features of the physical environment, walking difficulty & physical activity in old age. https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/75987 |
Kirsi Keskinen, Gerontology & Public Health, University of Jyväskylä, Finland |
Dr. Erja Portegijs, Prof. Taina Rantanen, Prof. Kimmo Suomi |
2021 |
|
Psychological resources as modifiers of the association between mobility decline and activity in old age. https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/72512 |
Sini Siltanen, Gerontology & Public Health, University of Jyväskylä, Finland |
Prof. Taina Rantanen, Dr. Erja Portegijs |
2020 |
|
Correlates of and physical activity counseling effect on attitude toward physical activity among older people. |
Li-Tang Tsai, Gerontology & Public Health, University of Jyväskylä, Finland |
Prof. Taina Rantanen, Dr. Merja Rantakokko, Dr. Erja Portegijs |
2017 |
Collaboration projects
BIO-COMPaSS consortium in the Netherlands https://umcgresearch.org/w/6-8-million-grant-for-groundbreaking-research-into-biological-age
Beweegreiskompas consortium in the Netherlands https://umcgresearch.org/w/getting-patients-to-exercise-as-much-as-possible-even-when-they-are-back-home
PhysAgeNet Network on Evidence-Based Physical Activity in Old Age (Cost Action network CA20104) https://physagenet.eu
The AGNES study on Active Aging and related studies at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland https://www.gerec.fi/en/research/activeageing/
The MOBITEC studies at the University of Basel, Switzerland https://mobility.dsbg.unibas.ch/projects/
| Last modified: | 10 September 2025 2.05 p.m. |