Breast
feeding has been shown to confer a long-term preventative effect against obesity
risk in later life. The EU Childhood Obesity Programme (CHOP) investigated
whether the protein/fat ratio in infant formula and complementary feeds has
lasting effects on obesity risks. Hence this EU Programme offered
opportunities for long-term health promotion by appropriate modification of
dietary products for infants.
Summary
Childhood obesity is
a major public health problem and
is an identified priority concern for the EU. Infants fed formula are
more likely to become obese than breastfed infants. The higher protein
content of infant formulae, compared with breast milk, could be a causal
factor.
The EU Childhood Obesity
Programme allowed, for the first time, a one year multicentre
intervention trial on new-born infants, to see whether feeding infant
formulae, which differ in their level of milk proteins , can influence the
risk of later childhood obesity. The trial took place in five
countries with different habitual total protein intakes to increase the
range of protein intakes and improving the statistical power to test the
'early protein hypothesis' (i.e. Early protein intake predicts infant growth
and later risk of childhood obesity).
The EU Childhood Obesity
Programme studied, over the first two years of life, body composition,
hormonal status, protein metabolism and new, simple anthropometric markers
of childhood obesity. Important conclusions were drawn at age 2
years on the relation between protein intake, growth and obesity risk.
In addition, the whole cohort will be followed up until age 8 years, through
the network of the Danone Institutes, to assess the long term impact on the
prevalence of obesity.
The EU Childhood Obesity
Programme explored the impact of consumer (parental) attitudes to, and
perceptions of, different practices of infant feeding in relation to infant
behaviour (satisfaction, crying, sleep duration) in five different European
countries (Belgium, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain). This consumer
science information helps improve the understanding of consumer (infants
and parents) acceptance of and preference for foods that contribute to
healthy diets.
If a relationship between
early dietary protein intake and later childhood obesity risk is confirmed,
it offers possibilities for the prevention of obesity, for improving advice
given to parents and for developing nutritionally improved dietary products
for infants.
The
first results were presented at the Earnest
International conference in Budapest in April 2006
PROJECT INFORMATION
Project Title: Childhood
Obesity: Early Programming by Infant Nutrition?
Project Number: QLK1-2001-00389
Acronym: CHOP
This project was carried
out with financial support of the European Communities, under the 5th Framework
Programme for Research, Technology & Demonstration, specific RTD programme
"Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources", Key Action 1 (Food,
Nutrition & Health). It does not necessarily reflect the Commissions' views and
in no way anticipates its future policy in this area.