"Early programming and prevention of cardiometabolic disease." The Department for Preventive Pediatrics of Full Prof. Dr. med. Renate Oberhoffer, along with the TUM Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) and TUM Diversity, has organized the Liesel-Beckmann Symposium. Around 80 interested individuals and students of the faculty followed the lectures held by international lecturers on November 27, 2015 at the German Heart Center.
A child's health begins before its birth
"We have placed an emphasis on very early programing while still in the mother's body, since knowledge about this is unfortunately still very minimal," explains Prof. Oberhoffer. After all, the health of a child already begins before its birth. "There are numerous studies which show that the nutrition of pregnant women has an effect on the unborn - as our lecturer was also able to show us," explains Prof. Oberhoffer, the Dean of the TUM Department for Sport and Health Sciences.
Positive effects are brought about through movement, for instance. The child also benefits from an active mother, for example, the heart is better. "Unfortunately, this is hardly recognized by gynecologists. Recommendations for pregnant women frequently do not exceed beyond pregnancy gymnastics. Only few recommend endurance or moderate strength training," analyzes Oberhoffer.
Movement: A positive effect on birth
Various studies have shown that movement reduces the number of postpartum depressions, birth complications are less frequent and the birth is perceived by mothers as being less strenuous. The full professors of the Department for Preventive Pediatrics generally recommend that pregnant mothers should therefore be active. "The suggestion to 'take care of yourself' is not generally appropriate. Those who were already active should also continue to be so. Mild endurance training is also possible for everyone, if necessary, under supervision.
"More results on the field of research were presented at the symposium in the course of a poster session. Christina Brei, from the Department of Nutritional Medicine of Full Professor Dr. Hans Hauner, received the first prize for her poster on the topic of "Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids during pregnancy/lactation and children's' body composition: 5-years of follow-up data (INFAT-study)".
IAS cooperative project at the Klinikum rechts der ISAR
To explore other effects, the Department of Preventive Pediatrics launches a collaborative project funded by the IAS with IAS fellow Prof. Regina Ensenauer at the Klinikum rechts der ISAR. "We will investigate women with diabetes in pregnancy," explains Oberhoffer. For this, two groups are formed, an experimental group with a training plan and a control group without. The researcher community then collects metabolic parameters and effects on the cardiovascular system in the children, such as blood pressure, vessel thickness and vascular functions.
The Liesel Beckmann Symposium is a joint event of TUM Diversity and the TUM IAS. The symposium aims to generate new aspects and content for gender and diversity research at the TUM, as well as to promote internal and external networking. Liesel Beckmann was the first female professor at the Technical University of Munich in 1938, the first woman to receive her doctorate in business administration in Germany and the first woman to hold a Chair.
To the Homepage of the TUM Institute for Advanced Study
To the Homepage of the Department for Preventive Pediatrics
Program of the Symposium on Early Programming
Information on Liesel Beckmann
Contact:
Prof. Dr. med. Renate Oberhoffer
Department of Preventive Pediatrics
Georg-Brauchle Ring 60/62
80992 Munich
Telephone: +49 (0)89 289 24571
Email: Preventive-paediatrie@ tum.de
Text: Fabian Kautz
Photo: TUM-IAS