Research project

The onset of obesity is one aspect of this wide-ranging research project. Research focuses on the first 16 weeks of life and examines any potential difference in the volumes ingested by breastfed babies and those fed on formula. Even in these early weeks of life, dietary behaviour can shape an irreversible metabolic trend leading towards the onset of obesity. In subsequent research periods up to the age of two, children are again examined according to further anthropometric, biophysical, biochemical and clinical parameters linked to the onset of obesity.

What makes this research so innovative is the focus it places on the very first phase of life, from pregnancy to two years of age, with the mother and child unit monitored using a range of measures. Consequently, the approach is strongly interdisciplinary, with experts in the fields of midwifery, medicine, care, nutrition, psychology, biomedical science and IT using state-of-the-art technology to examine the subjects.

The first 1000 days.

Measuring satiety signals

One of the hypotheses used to explain metabolic programming is the significant role played by overfeeding in the pre- and post-natal period. However, “overfeeding” has not been defined in either qualitative or quantitative terms. For example, overfeeding can be seen in terms of volume ingested, ingredients, or perception of satiety. In terms of the number and frequency of feeding times, precise monitoring of the volumes ingested by breastfed children and those fed on formula can provide information on its impact on patterns of growth and associated body fat mass.

Children who have been bottle-fed, whether with formula or their own mothers’ milk, are at a greater risk of being overweight in later life. Encouraging a child to drink too much is a major factor, and one which is magnified where the baby’s signals of satiety are ignored. Consequently, one aim of the project is to identify patterns of sucking, pulse, oxygen saturation and muscle tone which can be recognised by mothers as clear signals of satiety. This, in turn, helps prevent overfeeding.

Recording the volume ingested

The volume ingested and the associated intake of macro- and micro-nutrients is relevant. Excessive feeding, particularly of macro-nutrients, leads to an oversupply of nutrients to the developing child. Hence recording the volume ingested is a further important objective of the research project.

Tracking growth

Another aim of the research is to track the growth of children over their first two years of life in order to identify clear indicators for the development of excess weight as it relates to feeding styles. A particular focus is placed on how body fat accumulates, as fat cells in adipose tissue function as ductless glands which have a significant impact on the development of the organism.

Overfeeding in the first 16 weeks of life results in faulty programming of the hormone axes and this, in turn, has a decisive impact on future human health. The biological path towards obesity and its associated secondary subacute diseases appears to be established where negative factors cause adipose tissue to develop atypically.

Identification of molecular processes

Relevant biomarkers in different biological samples taken from mother and child are established as a means of identifying processes at physiological and molecular levels. Measurements include hormones relating to the energy budget and stress balance as well as satiety hormones and inflammation parameters. The microbiome is also recorded, as the composition of intestinal flora has a significant influence on human development.

The findings from the anthropometric data—such as BMI, body fat mass and growth trajectories—and the nutritional questionnaires are compared with the molecular factors. This is designed to highlight potential correlations with styles of feeding in order to identify molecular processes which lead to obesity.

At present there is no evidence-based data on the actual volume intake and feeding behaviour of babies fed on formula compared with those who are breastfed. This study breaks new ground by examining connections between the volumes ingested and the babies’ rate of growth, together with an analysis of body composition—the proportion of fat—and an analysis of the macronutrients and calorific value of mothers’ milk. Another novel aspect is the longitudinal design of the research. The study includes children who are born healthy and at full-term.

According to World Health Organisation studies (WHO 2013), the global prevalence of obesity has tripled since the 1980s. In Austria, for example, during the period from 2008 to 2012 the proportion of obese girls increased from 10% to 16%, and boys from 12% to 17% (BMG, 2012). Being overweight is a risk factor for obesity, and this in turn leads to many serious secondary diseases. Today obesity is the fifth largest risk factor for premature death. An effective prevention strategy is a significant determinant in successfully fighting this trend. New strategies are being followed, including the development and implementation of health and support programmes during and after pregnancy (WHO, 2016).

The onset of obesity is caused by many factors and is by no means completely understood. However, nutrition in early childhood has an important impact on metabolism. Both overfeeding and a lack of nutrition in the foetal period—measured by low and high birthweight—and in early childhood contribute to the onset of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

During the phase in pregnancy and after birth in which the organs are rapidly developing and differentiating, metabolic and other factors can exert long-term effects on the function of the organism in later life. This phenomenon is termed perinatal metabolic programming or metabolic imprinting. The first 1000 days include the period from conception to two years of age. This period of time is seen as a sensitive phase of metabolic development.