University of Groningen The obesity epidemic in Europe Vidra, Nikoletta

University of Groningen

The obesity epidemic in Europe

Vidra, Nikoletta

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2019

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Vidra, N. (2019). The obesity epidemic in Europe: Assessing the past and current mortality burden and the

future of obesity. University of Groningen.

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Acknowledgements

179

Acknowledgements

Over the past four years, I had new experiences, gained more knowledge, met new people, and underwent a wide range of emotions. And although a PhD trajectory sometimes feels like a lonely ride, the truth is that I was very privileged to be accompanied by my colleagues, friends, and family, who made this journey feasible and enjoyable.

First of all, I would like to thank my supervisor Fanny Janssen, who gave me the opportunity to conduct this PhD project, and thus made this journey possible. Fanny, you were a great supervisor – always enthusiastic, supportive, and motivating, even in the most difficult times. I very much appreciated our meetings, your constructive input, your encouragement, and your patience. A special thanks goes also to my second supervisor Leo van Wissen for your support, interesting comments, and optimistic approach, especially during the final stages of my PhD work.

I would also like to thank my previous supervisors and collaborators, who inspired my passion for research. Mary, thank you for being a wonderful supervisor and mentor – I am grateful for all the opportunities you gave me. Meropi, thank you for enabling me to work on interesting projects, and for believing in me. Yanni, thank you for our fruitful collaboration, and for opening the door to cancer research.

In addition, I would like to express my gratitude to my coauthors. Maarten, thank you for your guidance on my first two articles, your helpful insights, your patience, and for hosting me at the Max Plank Institute for Demographic Research in Rostock. Anastasie, thank you for your support with the final article, as well as for your critical insights and comments.

I also want to thank all of my colleagues at the Population Research Center at the University of Groningen. Clara, thank you for your support. Ajay, Arun, Carla, Elda, Eva, Hinke, Louise, Liesbeth, Rik, Sanne, Sepideh, and Shirish – it was great spending time with you. Ori, it was very nice having you as a colleague and a housemate. Katharina, I much enjoyed your company here in Groningen and in Rostock. A special thanks goes to Sergi, with whom I shared an office and many experiences over the past four years. Sergi, it was great having you as a colleague and as a friend. To my paranymph Roberta, thank you for your support and optimistic attitude at all times – it was so nice having you around. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the Graduate School, particularly to Lonneke and Sanne, as well as to the secretaries Miriam, Elisa, and Karin, who were always ready to support us in any way possible. I would also like to thank Miriam Hils for the language editing of this thesis; and Tom de Kryger for book cover.

180 It is a great pleasure to mention here my friends who played an important role in this trajectory. My paranymph Eirini, you are like a sister to me. I am extremely lucky to have had you in my life all these years. Michali, thank you for being more than a friend all these years. My dearest friends Aggeliki and Dora, thank you for all the beautiful times over the years. Derrick, Eric, Linde and Susanne, thank you for making my life in the Netherlands so much happier. Liandre, you were the first person I met in the Netherlands, and I am so lucky to still have you by my side. Mano, I wouldn’t have started this PhD if you had not sent me the job opening. Michael, your support was tremendous – thank you for all you did. Sergio, thank you for being part of my life.

Ένα μεγάλο ευχαριστώ στους γονείς μου που με υποστήριξαν τόσο πολύ, σε όλα τα επίπεδα, κι έκαναν το καλύτερο δυνατό για να γίνω αυτό που είμαι σήμερα.

And, finally, the biggest thanks of all go to my yet unborn daughter. Thanks to you, the last months of this PhD project were amazingly happy.

Acknowledgements

179

Acknowledgements

Over the past four years, I had new experiences, gained more knowledge, met new people, and underwent a wide range of emotions. And although a PhD trajectory sometimes feels like a lonely ride, the truth is that I was very privileged to be accompanied by my colleagues, friends, and family, who made this journey feasible and enjoyable.

First of all, I would like to thank my supervisor Fanny Janssen, who gave me the opportunity to conduct this PhD project, and thus made this journey possible. Fanny, you were a great supervisor – always enthusiastic, supportive, and motivating, even in the most difficult times. I very much appreciated our meetings, your constructive input, your encouragement, and your patience. A special thanks goes also to my second supervisor Leo van Wissen for your support, interesting comments, and optimistic approach, especially during the final stages of my PhD work.

I would also like to thank my previous supervisors and collaborators, who inspired my passion for research. Mary, thank you for being a wonderful supervisor and mentor – I am grateful for all the opportunities you gave me. Meropi, thank you for enabling me to work on interesting projects, and for believing in me. Yanni, thank you for our fruitful collaboration, and for opening the door to cancer research.

In addition, I would like to express my gratitude to my coauthors. Maarten, thank you for your guidance on my first two articles, your helpful insights, your patience, and for hosting me at the Max Plank Institute for Demographic Research in Rostock. Anastasie, thank you for your support with the final article, as well as for your critical insights and comments.

I also want to thank all of my colleagues at the Population Research Center at the University of Groningen. Clara, thank you for your support. Ajay, Arun, Carla, Elda, Eva, Hinke, Louise, Liesbeth, Rik, Sanne, Sepideh, and Shirish – it was great spending time with you. Ori, it was very nice having you as a colleague and a housemate. Katharina, I much enjoyed your company here in Groningen and in Rostock. A special thanks goes to Sergi, with whom I shared an office and many experiences over the past four years. Sergi, it was great having you as a colleague and as a friend. To my paranymph Roberta, thank you for your support and optimistic attitude at all times – it was so nice having you around. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the Graduate School, particularly to Lonneke and Sanne, as well as to the secretaries Miriam, Elisa, and Karin, who were always ready to support us in any way possible. I would also like to thank Miriam Hils for the language editing of this thesis; and Tom de Kryger for book cover.

180 It is a great pleasure to mention here my friends who played an important role in this trajectory. My paranymph Eirini, you are like a sister to me. I am extremely lucky to have had you in my life all these years. Michali, thank you for being more than a friend all these years. My dearest friends Aggeliki and Dora, thank you for all the beautiful times over the years. Derrick, Eric, Linde and Susanne, thank you for making my life in the Netherlands so much happier. Liandre, you were the first person I met in the Netherlands, and I am so lucky to still have you by my side. Mano, I wouldn’t have started this PhD if you had not sent me the job opening. Michael, your support was tremendous – thank you for all you did. Sergio, thank you for being part of my life.

Ένα μεγάλο ευχαριστώ στους γονείς μου που με υποστήριξαν τόσο πολύ, σε όλα τα επίπεδα, κι έκαναν το καλύτερο δυνατό για να γίνω αυτό που είμαι σήμερα.

And, finally, the biggest thanks of all go to my yet unborn daughter. Thanks to you, the last months of this PhD project were amazingly happy.