PAS GRAS

PAS GRAS has the following specific objectives (SO): SO1. Identify metabolic, lifestyle, mental, environmental, and socioeconomic vulnerabilities associated with increased risk of obesity development and its complications, e.g., transgenerational and food insecurity risks within families (Work Package, WP2/4); SO2. Identify (epi)genetic and gender-specific parameters in early life predicting future risk for obesity development (WP2); SO3. Identify and characterize novel biological pathways and circulating markers of obesity comorbidities. Assess the systemic communication between brain and peripheral organs to unravel its decisive role in obesity development across ages and stages of disease (WP3). SO4. Design and validate strategies based on naturally-occurring compounds that will guide interventions in adults 18-55 yr with obesity and their children, reducing the intrafamiliar risks (WP3/5); SO5. Generate participatory, creative and engaging science-health literacy tools and physical activity programs and testing their efficacy from individual to community levels towards best practices and recommendations that incorporate social and gender equity, solidarity, inclusion, and human rights (WP2, 4-6). From the 12 research bottlenecks/research gaps identified in the call ?Prevention of obesity throughout the life course?, PAS GRAS strongly addresses the 10 most relevant ones (#1,2,3,5,6,7,8,9,10 and 11) demonstrating strong alignment. We anticipate that PAS GRAS outcomes will contribute to a long-term 15% decrease in overweight/obesity prevalence in adults and 30% in children/adolescents in the EU until 2050, contributing to a downstream reduction of obesity-associated complications, pharmaceutical and surgical interventions.