Youngsters create short films to address obesity and eating disorders

Youth homelessness and eating disorders are two areas of health highlighted by young people in Cardiff in a project that uses digital technology to create short films which detail public health issues. The films, shot and edited by young people with support from Cardiff University students, will be displayed at the Chapter Arts Centre in Cfanton, Cardiff on Wednesday 17 March, as part of a series of activities across the UK to mark the Economic and Social Research Council's (ESRC) Festival of Social Science, which runs from 12 -21 March 2010.

The 'Picture of Health' project brings together young people aged 15-18 from Cardiff youth service, along with undergraduates, postgraduates and support staff from Cardiff University to produce honest accounts of some of the health issues effecting young people today.  The project involved young people being trained in digital technologies to create short films detailing the health issues that affect them.

Sophie, 20, is an undergraduate at the University and has been helping to support the young people.  She thinks that by using technology to engage young people it reaches the audience most at risk from the issues covered: "Young people seem to instinctively engage with this technology and many would rather get their information from the internet than books or professionals.  The young people learn new skills and because the information is coming directly from them, it seems more honest and relevant to their peers."

This is all part of the work of a new research unit committed to improving the quality of research in areas such as diet and obesity, exercise, sexual health and substance misuse.

The Centre for the Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions for Public Health Improvement is in the process of developing an advisory group of young people to develop new approaches to engage young people, including digital approaches.  The films created in this project, once finished, will be uploaded onto the internet for download, potentially reaching a far wider audience than traditional media.