Research into children's health and health behaviours and the factors influencing them is essential for the development of effective health education and health promotion policy.

Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) is a WHO study carried out in a large number of countries in Europe and North America. It aims to gain new insight into adolescent health behaviours, health and lifestyles in their social context.

HBSC represents the longest running international study that focuses on the health behaviour and social context of young people. The study was initiated in 1982 by researchers from three countries and shortly afterwards the project was adopted by the World Health Organization as a WHO collaborative study. There are now 43 participating countries and regions. England has been represented in the past three survey cycles (since 1997).