Background: Different theoretical concepts are used in participatory health promotion to describe project processes and effects. In practice, this may cause problems regarding efforts to counteract social inequality, pilot project scalability, and compatibility with state-of-the-art health concepts. Objectives: This article introduces the concept of real-world labs as a potential solution for current problems in participatory health promotion and investigates its practical applicability using the case example of an existing project. Methods: The article first describes current problems in participatory health promotion that emanate from the utilization of certain popular theoretical concepts. It then introduces real-world labs as a potential solution. Using the PArC-AVE project (Physical Activity-related Health Competence in Apprenticeship and Vocational Education) as a case example, it shows how the approach can be used retrospectively to address the previously mentioned issues. Results: Real-world labs are a transdisciplinary approach at the intersection of research and society. They help create an environment for flexibly testing innovative solutions under changing conditions. However, the approach is so far not commonly used in participatory health promotion. The example of PArC-AVE illustrates that existing participatory projects can potentially be developed in the direction of real-world labs. Perspectives include (a) the targeted integration of different actors into the participation process, (b) more variable approaches to scaling-up interventions, (c) a more flexible utilization of different participation methods, and (d) a better recognition of concepts such as planetary health. Conclusion: The real-world lab approach has the potential to increase the range of options available to participatory health promotion. However, only further practical testing will show whether it is indeed effective in overcoming social inequalities and ameliorating the high degree of context-dependence of many participatory projects. © The Author(s) 2023.
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