The “Fit4Life” project – what is it about?
The Fit4Life project addresses young families in Munich and helps to promote a healthy lifestyle. The aim is to analyse factors that lead to overweight and obesity – and to learn how to prevent the development of obesity at an early stage. We support families in the first two years after the birth of their first child. The programme relies on a modern, digital solution to provide families with scientifically based information by using the Nebolus app.
The Fit4Life project uses the Nebolus app to introduce young families to regional health services and provide health information on nutrition, physical activity and sports- and exercise courses. The programme is accompanied by a study.
Families will be informed about the study at Harlaching Hospital (Munich) after the birth and can participate if they are interested. The duration of the study is 2 years.
The TUM School of Medicine and Health, the University of Applied Sciences Fulda, the Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine Munich, the Friedrich Schiedel Foundation and the City of Munich.
More detailed information on the “Fit4Life” programme and the associated study can be found here. Insights into the Nebolus scavenger hunt, in which the young families take part by using the app, are also listed here:
Promoting a healthy lifestyle at an early age is crucial as it has positive long-term effects on physical and mental health. Scientific studies show that habits developed in childhood and adolescence are often carried over into adulthood. Early childhood development in the first 1000 days of life has a key role to prevent overweight and obesity and the associated cardiovascular risks.
It has been scientifically proven that early promotion of physical activity, a balanced diet and sufficient sleep is the basis for stable health and can significantly reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity.
Proper nutrition is particularly important during the growth phase, as the body needs essential nutrients during this time in order to develop optimally. A lack of healthy foods or too much sugar and fat in the diet can not only lead to obesity, but also impair cognitive development. Regular physical activity also has a positive effect on motor development, bone health and the immune system. In addition, a healthy lifestyle promotes mental well-being. Exercise stimulates the production of endorphins, the “feel-good” hormones, and helps to reduce stress and anxiety. Children and young people who learn to take care of their health at an early age also develop greater self-confidence and a more positive attitude towards their bodies.
“Life’s Essential 8”
Among other things, our studies are based on the “Life’s Essential 8”, a concept researched by the American Heart Association (AHA). The “Life’s Essential 8” is a way to identifying cardiovascular risk factors in the whole family in order to prevent diseases such as obesity and overweight. This is part of a preventative approach, as the focus of cardiology since around 2010 has increasingly been on preventing cardiovascular disease rather than just treating it.
The 8 factors:
The AHA categorizes the risk factors into two main areas: Health determinants and health behaviors.
- Health determinants (body values):
- Body weight (BMI):
Assessment of underweight, normal weight and overweight - Blood lipid levels:
If cholesterol or other lipid levels are too high, this can be dangerous for the heart. - Blood sugar:
Increased values can indicate a risk of diabetes. - Blood pressure:
High blood pressure is one of the most common risk factors for heart disease.
- Health behavior (lifestyle):
- Nutrition: How balanced is the family’s diet?
This is determined using a special questionnaire. - Physical activity: How active are the family members in everyday life?
This is determined with questions on physical activity. - Smoking: Does anyone in the family smoke?
A simple question is enough to clarify this. - Sleep: How well and how much do people sleep?
This is recorded in a short survey.
Families can participate after the birth of their first child. Parents must be of legal age, live in Munich (< 20km radius of the Harlaching hospital) and have a good understanding of written and spoken German. Unfortunately, participation is not possible in the case of multiple pregnancies, premature births, medication taken during pregnancy or known pregnancy-related illnesses of the mother. The families will be informed about the study after the birth at the Harlaching hospital and can participate in the study if they are interested. The duration of the study is 2 years. During this time, all families included in the study will receive 3 additional appointments after 6, 12 and 24 months with various examinations. These examinations include:
- Weight development of the child and parents
- Activities of the child and parents in their everyday lives
- Nutrition for child and parents
- Parents’ quality of life and mental health
- Child development in terms of cognition, motor skills and language
- Assessment of risk factors for cardiovascular disease in parents and child (e.g. blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar)
- Analysis of the gut microbiome (the bacteria in the gut) of the child and parents
Interactive map in the app with three example stations (“pink glasses”)
When the first child is born, everyday life changes fundamentally. Fit4Life wants to support parents during this important phase. The Nebolus app provides them with easy-to-understand, scientifically based information on healthy eating, exercise and other topics that are good for the whole family. The information has been compiled by a team of doctors and health- and sports scientists from the Technical University of Munich . In addition, our interactive map gives them the opportunity to explore and visit a wide range of health-related services adapted to the child’s age. Right in their neighborhood.
The Nebolus app:
- Informs parents – for example with tips on nutrition and suggestions for more physical activity in everyday life for the child and the whole family
- Presents health-related services in the area – age-specific for children and parents and directly in the neighborhood
Many expectant parents and young families search online for information about the first years of their child’s life.
- There are numerous websites and apps available, but it is often difficult to recognise whether the content is trustworthy and scientifically based.
- Although social media such as Instagram or Facebook offer easy access to health information and reach many people, they often make it even more difficult to assess the quality and accuracy of the content.
Therefore we see the potential in our Fit4Life intervention with its implementation in the Nebolus app, which provides easily accessible and science-based informations.
Examples of the content in the app
Included are first time mothers from the Harlaching Hospital. They will be randomly assigned to one of two groups:
- Control group: These families receive all the examinations mentioned above.
- Intervention group: These families use the Nebolus app, which supports them in the first two years and provides important health information and services in Munich.
After allocation, families will receive a flyer with further information about the programme:
Flyer front page
Flyer back page – control group
Who is behind it?
Study leader of the Fit4Life project
Chair of Preventive Pediatrics
TUM School of Medicine and Health
Prof. Dr. med. Renate Oberhoffer-Fritz
Dr. phil. Christina Sitzberger Dr. med. univ. Maximilian Dettenhofer
Dr. phil. Julia Remmele E-mail address: fit4life.as@mh.tum.de
Project Nebolus
Department of Health Sciences
Fulda University of Applied Sciences
Prof. Dr. Kevin Dadaczynski
M.A. Demian Frank
B.Sc. Mareike Brockmann
Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine:
A cooperation between the Munich Clinic and
TUM’s Clinic rechts der Isar
TUM School of Medicine and Health Prof. Dr. med. Julia Hauer Clinic Director & Chief Physician of the Clinic for Pediatrics and Prof. Dr. med. Marcus Krüger Chief Physician of the Clinic for Neonatology
Friedrich Schiedel Foundation
City of Munich
Department Health and Environment Beatrix Zurek
