PD Dr. Siegrist already received the doctoral award of the "Bund der Freunde" of the TUM in 2004 for her dissertation entitled "Stellenwert verschiedener Trainingsprogramme in der Prävention der Osteoporose".
As part of her habilitation, Siegrist, who holds a degree in sports science, dedicated herself to the two projects "JuvenTUM" and "LOGIC" ("Long-term Effects of Lifestyle Intervention in Obesity and Genetic Influence in Children") from the field of health promotion in childhood and adolescence.
"JuvenTUM" is a project at Bavarian elementary schools and Munich secondary schools to promote the health literacy of students, their teachers and parents with a focus on exercise and sports. Children and young people are to be trained to become "experts for their own health" and, by experiencing the fun of exercise and health, are to be guided toward independent health-promoting behavior both in the area of physical activity and in nutrition and in dealing with stress. It is funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Public Health and comprises three stages: Primary school children as health experts (stages 1 and 2) and children and adolescents as health experts (stage 3).
The LOGIC study aims to investigate the short-, medium-, and long-term relationships between body weight (weight loss) and polymorphisms in obesity-related genes, various cardiovascular and metabolic parameters, and lifestyle and quality of life. The project has been running since January 2006, and by the end of 2013, nearly 1,500 children and adolescents who participated in obesity therapy at the Schönsicht Clinic in Berchtesgaden had been included in the study. The therapy is based on a calorie-reduced mixed diet, regular physical activity and behavioral therapy.
"As part of the LOGIC study, PD Dr. Siegrist has assembled and monitored the largest cohort of overweight children in the world. The approach is unique," explains Prof. Halle. "Particularly noteworthy is the cooperation with rehabilitation clinics, because based on this interface it was possible to acquire enough subjects."
The "Bund der Freunde" supports the Technical University of Munich in science, research and teaching and has set itself the goal in particular of promoting young academics. The body was founded back in 1922. Today, the Bund has over 2,000 individual members and 120 companies. Members include the companies MAN, Siemens and Krupp.
To the homepage of the "Bund der Freunde" of the TUM
To the homepage of the Chair of Preventive and Rehabilitative Sports Medicine
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Martin Halle
Chair of Preventive and Rehabilitative Sports Medicine
Georg-Brauchle-Ring 56 (Campus C)
80992 München
phone: 089 289 24441
e-mail: sportmed(at)mri.tum.de
PD Dr. Monika Siegrist
Chair of Preventive and Rehabilitative Sports Medicine
Georg-Brauchle-Ring 56 (Campus C)
80992 München
e-mail: monika.siegrist(at)mri.tum.de
Text: Romy Schwaiger
Photo: Chair of Preventive and Rehabilitative Sports Medicine