DE-RISKING METABOLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL DETERMINANTS OF OBESITY IN CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS

Project Information

PAS GRAS

Grant agreement ID: 101080329

DOI

10.3030/101080329

EC signature date 28 April 2023

Start date 1 May 2023

End date 30 April 2028

Funded under

• Health

Total cost

€ 9 377 421,25

EU contribution

€ 9 377 421,25

Coordinated by

UNIVERSIDADE DE COIMBRA
Portugal

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PAS GRAS (DE-RISKING METABOLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL DETERMINANTS OF OBESITY IN CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS)

Reporting period: 2023-05-01 to 2024-10-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The PAS GRAS project aims to address the growing burden of obesity by focusing on overweight and obese children, adolescents, and young adults, with the main goal of reversing obesity and preventing later-life comorbidities. Through a multidisciplinary approach, the project seeks to determine how lifestyle factors, mental health, social/family influences, and the environment interact with individual psychological, genetic, and metabolic characteristics. By integrating these parameters, PAS GRAS will develop personalized risk assessment tools and novel prevention or treatment strategies, addressing gaps in obesity diagnosis, prognosis, early intervention, and public awareness.

The project’s objectives include identifying vulnerabilities associated with obesity development, predicting future risks using epigenetic and gender-specific markers, and characterizing biological pathways and markers of obesity comorbidities. Additionally, it aims to design interventions using naturally occurring compounds, develop creative science-health literacy tools, and test their efficacy across populations. PAS GRAS addresses 10 of the 12 critical research gaps identified in the EU call, aiming for a significant long-term reduction in obesity prevalence by 2050.

Work Packages:

WP1: Management, Ethics & Training
This work package ensures the effective and ethical implementation of the project through the establishment of scientific boards, ethical oversight, and human resource training, including specialized courses for early-stage investigators.
WP2: Risk Stratification
This work package develops a Risk Assessment Toolbox (RAT) to stratify obesity risk across the lifespan using socioeconomic, dietary, lifestyle, mental, and biological markers.
WP3: Mechanism Identification and Interventions
WP3 focuses on identifying molecular targets for anti-obesity pharmacological approaches, including modulation of inflammation, energy balance mechanisms, and metabolic reprogramming. It evaluates the effects of Mediterranean diet components and natural products in reducing obesity-related inflammation.
WP4: Creative Health Literacy Tools
WP4 applies co-production methodologies to raise health literacy and promote healthy lifestyles through interactive tools, educational materials, and interventions tailored to different demographic and socio-cultural environments. A scalability plan ensures a broader impact across Europe.
WP5: Personalized Interventions
WP5 develops risk-adapted dietary and physical activity interventions and evaluates their effects on obesity and associated diseases. It examines the transgenerational impacts of lifestyle changes on obesity risk in families.
WP6: Dissemination, Exploitation, and Communication
WP6 oversees the dissemination and communication of project results, clustering with related initiatives, and delivering policy recommendations to improve public health and reduce obesity prevalence across Europe.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

In the first reporting period, the PAS GRAS team achieved significant milestones across all work packages.

In WP1, the project successfully held its kickoff meeting, established governance boards, and exceeded recruitment targets by hiring 24 researchers, including 14 early-stage investigators, supported by interdisciplinary training programs.

WP2 collected data from 13 European cohorts, integrating socioeconomic, dietary, mental health, and metabolic markers into the Risk Assessment Toolbox (RAT), with initial findings linking Mediterranean diet adherence to improved cardiometabolic health.

WP3 identified molecular targets, such as Nrf2 activators, and initiated studies on natural compounds like Za’atar and mushrooms, focusing on their anti-inflammatory and metabolic effects. Insights into dopamine and neuroendocrine pathways will give an advanced understanding of energy regulation.

WP4 developed creative tools, including a project mascot, comics, and educative games, to promote health literacy and healthy lifestyles. Participatory research, like the GiCO study, provided insights into barriers to adopting healthy behaviors.

In WP5, interventional protocols combining diet, physical activity, and pharmacological approaches were designed, aligning with WP3 outcomes to test dietary supplements’ efficacy.

WP6 established strong communication channels, attracting over 100,000 views and conducting 32 outreach events that reached 63,000 people. The project published 35 scientific articles, presented 79 communications, and collaborated under the OBEClust initiative, impacting over one million individuals through press and public engagement.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The PAS GRAS project is advancing obesity research through multidisciplinary studies and interventions. Early-stage findings include the identification of molecular targets for obesity, such as the anti-inflammatory effects of compounds like dimethyl fumarate and sulforaphane. Preliminary studies show improved metabolic health in children adhering to the Mediterranean diet, highlighting its role in reducing insulin resistance and improving cardiometabolic profiles. Research also reveals how maternal obesity disrupts offspring health, emphasizing the importance of early-life interventions. The PAS GRAS Campaign uses innovative tools to promote health literacy and lifestyle changes. These include comics, serious games, and participatory methodologies designed to engage diverse demographics. The GiCO study has provided insights into barriers and facilitators of healthy lifestyles in children, shaping data-driven interventions. Community events like “Mushroom Month” and collaborative efforts with stakeholders enhance public engagement and campaign impact. By mid-2025, the campaign aims to expand across consortium countries, delivering culturally tailored strategies to combat obesity effectively.

Logo of the project to include with the summary