PhD defence F.J.M. (Famke) Mölenberg

The environment plays a key role in promoting health. Our environment is constantly changing, creating opportunities to support healthy behaviours. This thesis shows that by changing the environment, we can improve health. These interventions also have the potential to reduce inequalities in health.

Changes in the environment cannot be studied like a drug, and therefore we use novel approaches. This thesis uses so-called “natural experiments”, sudden changes in the living environment, to evaluate the effects of these changes in real-world settings. We found that play facilities near home makes it easier for children to play outside. The current fast food paradises where children grow up could be a barrier for healthy dietary behaviours. The hosting of international sport events may contribute to increasing sport participation levels in the population, and largest effects were found following the Grand Départ of the Tour de France. We also reviewed international evidence on smoke-free car policies, and found that these initiatives can considerably reduce the harmful effects of tobacco smoke exposure in children.

A healthy population starts by creating a healthy environment. We should shift our priorities from interventions primarily targeting behaviour of individuals, towards interventions targeting the environment to which individuals are exposed. We need to intervene in the environment to ensure that the healthy choice becomes the easy choice.

Due to corona, the PhD defences do not take place publicly in the usual way in the Senate Hall or in the Professor Andries Querido Room. The candidates will defend their dissertation either in a small group or online.