The environment of infants and children has drastically changed in Europe during the last decades as reflected in alterations of behaviour, unhealthy dietary habits and low physical activity. Dietary factors appear to play a part in attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) and related developmental disorders. Many of these factors are the same as those involved in the development of obesity, metabolic syndrome, type II diabetes etc. For this reason, the IDEFICS research consortium has chosen to focus on (1) neurobehavioural disorders like ADHD (2) overweight and obesity as major components of the metabolic syndrome and (3) musculoskeletal disorders. The latter share risk factors with overweight but they are also of interest in their own.

To stop the resulting epidemic of diet- and lifestyle-induced morbidity, evidence-based efficient approaches are needed. This EU Integrated Project (IP), which EUFIC is pleased to support in its capacity as a dissemination partner, shall identify a risk profile inventory for children susceptible to these three disorders and their co-morbidity and shall devise tailored prevention strategies that are effective, easy to implement and that account for the needs of different social groups.

Genetic and non-genetic factors, psychosocial background and social settings will be considered in the research. Population-based studies will investigate the impact of sensory perception and provide results concerning triggers and short and long-term effects of food choices. The benefit and risks of the enrichment of food with specific nutrients will be evaluated in animal studies.

The research consortium will consider societies’ use of information on individual risk factors as well as on individuals’ rights and responsibilities. The ethical implications of a “right not to know” of genetic factors and the use of individual data will be addressed.

The IP will propose a knowledge-based set of guidelines on dietary and lifestyle activities for health promotion and disease prevention in children (aged between 2 to 12 years) for health professionals, stakeholders, channels, and consumers at a pan-European level and for individual countries.

For more information:

http://www.ideficsstudy.eu/Idefics/

New project puts European adolescents under the spotlight

Simposio conjunto de HELENA, IDEFICS y PROCHILDREN

To view related documents on the EUFIC website, please go to food for all ages.