PAS GRAS is a joint project of ESCI and the University of Coimbra (PT) to fight the obesity pandemic and promote a healthy lifestyle.
The project “PAS GRAS: de-risking metabolic, environmental and behavioral determinants of obesity in children, adolescents and young adults” is a joint project of ESCI and the University of Coimbra (PT). The aim of the project is to develop interdisciplinary research and to implement innovation strategies to prevent and treat obesity, a public health issue that has now reached a pandemic dimension, providing practical solutions for a healthy lifestyle in contemporary society. The project is led by the researcher and vice-president of the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of the University of Coimbra (CNC-UC) Paulo Oliveira, and involves partners from 8 European countries. The project is supported by the European Union through a 9.5-million euros Horizon Europe grant over five years.
The research will clarify the roles of lifestyle, mental health, family history, socioeconomic factors and the environment in the development of obesity, and their interaction with the genetic and metabolic characteristics of each individual. Based on an integrated analysis of multiple parameters, it will be possible to develop a personalized and robust assessment of the increased risk of obesity and associated complications. The study will target children (3-9 years old), adolescents (10-18 years old), young adults (19-25 years old), and their families. Additionally, the project will study cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the protective effects of Mediterranean diet components and physical activity. Furthermore, it will create an international campaign aimed at increasing health literacy and raising awareness about the risks of obesity.
PAS GRAS will fill critical gaps in the diagnosis and prognosis of obesity and provide a set of innovative tools and measures that can contribute to adopting and maintaining lifestyle choices that counteract overweight/obesity», explains the project leader. The project has a unique team, involving not only researchers, health professionals and entrepreneurs, but also local communities, and national and international authorities, so that together we can reverse the upward obesity curve, especially among the young population.
