The rise in childhood obesity demands our immediate attention. This trend is concerning because obesity in childhood often leads to health issues in later life. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that Europe has a high prevalence of childhood obesity: Today approximately one in three school-aged children and one in four adolescents are with overweight or obesity.
Childhood obesity can be caused by various factors such as the consumption of sugary and fast foods, and high-calorie beverages that lack nutritional value. Sedentary lifestyles, often due to excessive screen time and reduced outdoor activities, are also major contributors to this problem. Additionally, low socioeconomic status can limit access to healthy foods and opportunities for physical activity. Inadequate urban planning that fails to prioritise safe outdoor spaces and a lack of supportive policies can also impede healthy lifestyles. Lastly, genetic predisposition can make some children more susceptible to obesity when exposed to an obesogenic environment.
Childhood obesity is a pressing issue that requires collective action to mitigate its impact on the health and well-being of our children and future generations. By understanding its prevalence, causes, and impacts in later life, we can work together to create healthier environments and brighter futures for our children. Follow our progress as we take steps towards a healthier Europe!
Obelisk aims to address the scientific challenges that have hindered progress in childhood obesity research. These include the lack of a comprehensive understanding of the biological pathways involved in the development of obesity, the need to consider socio-economic and lifestyle factors, and the scarcity of pre-obesity biomarkers to predict and monitor the effectiveness of interventions. In addition, there is a need for better clinical research and knowledge of lifestyle habits, environmental exposures, and susceptibility to co-morbidities. Obelisk will bring innovative solutions to this significant health problem in the EU, which could prevent the development of severe forms of obesity and related diseases. Importantly, the project has access to the most extensive EU cohorts of young patients with obesity to support our research.
