UC scientists promote in-school activity to mark World Obesity Day
The initiative will take place as part of the project "PAS GRAS: reducing metabolic risks, environmental and behavioural determinants of obesity in children, adolescents and young adults" and aims to highlight the importance of healthy eating and physical activity.
To mark World Obesity Day (4 March), UC researchers leading the project 'PAS GRAS: De-risking metabolic, environmental and behavioural determinants of obesity in children, adolescents and young adults', will be holding the 'Healthy Lifestyle for a Brilliant Future!' initiative at a primary school in Coimbra, with the participation of 61 fourth grade students.
This activity aims to provide a practical approach to the risk factors associated with the development of overweight and obesity, as well as the importance of healthy eating and physical activity. The questions "What's your favourite food?" and "What's your body's favourite food?" will set the tone for a lab activity with memory games and food stories , led by researchers from the UC Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC-UC), Anabela Marisa Azul, Andreia Silva, Paulo Matafome and Paulo Oliveira, as well as Bruna Moreira, PAS GRAS communications manager.
The project PAS GRAS has a 9.5 million funding from the EU Horizon Europe Programme, and aims to develop over the course of five years interdisciplinary research and innovation strategies towards a paradigm shift to prevent and reverse obesity in Portugal and Europe. providing practical solutions for a healthy lifestyle in today's society. PAS GRAS is coordinated by Paulo Oliveira and involves partners from eight European countries.
The project addresses the impact of lifestyle, mental health, family, socio-economic and environmental factors on the development of obesity and how these interact with the genetic and metabolic traits of each individual. Based on an integrated analysis of multiple parameters, it will be possible to develop a solid and tailored tool for risk assessment of obesity and related complications. The project will also study the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the protective effects of the Mediterranean diet and physical activity, and develop an international campaign to improve health literacy and raise awareness of obesity risks.