International study takes life-course approach to address early childhood obesity

Southampton researchers are leading an international consortium which aims to address childhood obesity.

The Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative (HeLTI) has been developed with the World Health Organization, and is recruiting 22,000 women in China, India, South Africa and Canada.

The programme is assessing a complex continuum of care intervention that begins at preconception, and for those women that become pregnant, continues during pregnancy, infancy and childhood to reduce childhood obesity.

The intervention addresses aspects of maternal health such as nutrition, and weight; providing psychosocial support to reduce maternal stress and prevent mental illness; optimising infant nutrition, physical activity, and sleep; and promoting parenting skills.

Women recruited to the study who conceive (an expected 10,000) and their children will be followed up through different stages of life: from before pregnancy, through pregnancy, infancy, and early childhood up to the age of 5 years.

Shane Norris, Professor of Global Health at the University of Southampton is leading the South Africa arm of the project, and Dr Kalyanaraman Kumaran, Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health, is leading the India arm of the programme.

HeLTI leaders recently met in South Africa to discuss the project and met with the South African Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla; the Director General of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and the President of the South African Medical Research Council, Professor Glenda Gray, to discuss the programme’s early findings. Discussions focused around the fact that the first 1000 days are important for maternal and child health, but preconception health and care could make further support reductions in childhood obesity rates.

Professor Norris said: “Being healthy before pregnancy is extremely important for women to have a healthy pregnancy and birth, and for her baby to be healthy. Supporting women and young children from these very stages, including during the critical period of the ‘first 1000 days’ helps to give all children their best start in life. We are very proud to be taking a leading role in such an important international study. The recent meeting was very productive especially as we had the opportunity to discuss the HeLTI with policymakers.”