IDEFICS - Identification and prevention of Dietary- and lifestyle-induced health EFfects In Children and infantS
The IDEFICS Study, designed to run for five years, commenced in September
2006 under the coordination of the Bremen Institute for Prevention Research and Social Medicine, at the University of Bremen.
The study is funded by the European Commission under the 6th Framework Programme.
The study will deliver reliable
data to make an international assessment of the problem of "obesity in children" possible. The focus of the IDEFICS
Study lies in exploring the risks for overweight and obesity in children as well as associated long-term consequences. In
addition, the EU-wide study offers a unique possibility to measure in how far sensory perception and preferences of children
influence the development of overweight.
Beyond pure research, IDEFICS will offer activities for health promotion
and prevention in kindergartens and schools. These prevention programmes will be developed, implemented and evaluated within
the IDEFICS Study.
The results of the study will be incorporated into various guidelines on nutritional, behavioural
and lifestyle as well as ethical aspects in all participating countries.
Naturally, such a large-scale project can only work with a little bit of help – from the schools and kindergartens and especially from the parents. What we need is your interest, your readiness to watch carefully and your engagement. Only if we want to learn to understand health, we can improve the future of our children.
(Now is: English )