Built Environments And Child Health in WalEs and AuStralia (BEACHES) is a collaborative project bringing together researchers from the UK and Australia. The BEACHES project aims to provide high quality evidence of aspects of the built environment which can be modified to reduce the negative impact on children’s physical activity, eating behaviours and weight status.

This project focuses on the prevention of non-communicable diseases by concentrating on our most vulnerable population group - children. Childhood obesity and physical inactivity are two of the most significant modifiable risk factors for non-communicable disease prevention. Yet, the majority of UK and Australian children are insufficiently active and many are overweight or obese.

This research will inform evidence-based planning policy and practice strategies to prevent the rise in obesity and non-communicable disease in future generations. We will develop a set of guidelines focused on principles of best practice for liveable, family-friendly built environments that promote healthy beginnings.

BEACHES includes a team of epidemiologists, geographers, statisticians, and data scientists who have an outstanding track record of collaborative and multidisciplinary research. Our research team includes scientists from the Telethon Kids Institute, Swansea University, The University of Western Australia, Curtin University, Monash University, Queensland University of Technology and University of Southern Denmark.