BigO – NISLAB

Acronym: BigO
Name: Big data against childhood Obesity
Duration: 2016-2021
Coordinator: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH)
Role of IHU/NISLAB: Beneficiary (2019-2021)
Project Website: https://bigoprogram.eu/

BigO was a HORIZON 2020 EU Research project (Grant Agreement No. 727688, 01/12/2016 – 31/03/2021) which developed an integrated IT platform (Smartphone App, Sensors/Smartwatches, Web interface) to collect and analyse anonymous Big Data on children’s behavioural patterns and their living environment. Using advanced analytics and sophisticated visualisations, BigO extracts data-driven evidence on which local factors are involved, and how these factors influence childhood obesity in Europe. As an open platform, BigO is also envisioned as a tool for local public health authorities.

The International Hellenic University (IHU) participated in BigO through the Laboratory of Nutrition Information Systems (NISLAB) and the Laboratory of Dietetics and Sports Nutrition and was involved in data collection and pilot deployment actions using the IT platform in student populations across the greater Thessaloniki region. In these actions, coordinated by IHU personnel under the approval of the Ministry of Education, approximately 850 Greek students aged 9-18 participated in data collection actions across 31 schools in Thessaloniki, mainly in the Ampelokipoi – Menemeni and Pylaia – Chortiatis municipalities. A significant amount of data was gathered via these actions: 850 user questionnaires, 12.264 Meal Photos, 1293 Advertisement Photos, 13.329 days of Accelerometry data (phones & watches) and 4514 days of fully anonymised GPS data, which will contribute to the creation of novel datasets and a better understanding on the effect of the environment in Childhood Obesity.

Apart from co-coordinating and participating in the Thessaloniki data collection actions, NISLAB also developed: