To improve the health of children and adolescents, the Department of Sport and Health Sciences has established a new science center. The "Center for Health Promotion and Prevention in Childhood and Adolescence" (CHAMPION) aims to further interdisciplinary research in the field of child health, with a special focus on prevention.
Following its establishment on October 12, 2022, as part of the "Future of Health - Child Health and Wellbeing" Summit, the Center is to be further developed into an official WHO Collaborating Center after a qualification phase of two years.
Bavaria's Minister of Health Klaus Holetschek, who was patron of the Summit, said at the opening of the Center in Munich: "The consequences of the Corona pandemic are particularly stressful for children and adolescents. How we can improve the health and well-being of young people has been a central concern of the Free State of Bavaria and a focus of the Bavarian Prevention Plan not only since the pandemic. We are funding a large number of projects in this area. I am therefore very pleased that TUM is standing by our side and making a valuable contribution to the health of our children by founding the CHAMPION Center."
Dean Prof. Dr. Renate Oberhoffer-Fritz, head of the Chair of Preventive Pediatrics, emphasizes, "There are many widespread diseases in our society that could be prevented to a large extent by healthier behavior. The best place to start is in childhood. After all, obesity and, as a consequence, cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes are not an unchangeable fate. That's why prevention is also the focus of our new Center for Child and Adolescent Health."
Around 130 participants_from all over the world took part in the second edition of the "Future of Health" Summit as well as the Autumn School, which took place from October 12 to 14, 2022 at the TUM Campus in the Olympic Park. In addition, digital participation was possible.
The focus of the Summit this year was on a total of three topics:
- Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in childhood and the role of COVID-19
- Perspectives on prevention
- Health behaviors
"I am very pleased that our 'Future of Health' Summit and the Autumn School that followed it again received such a great international response the second time around," said Prof. Oberhoffer-Fritz. "Over the three days, we were able to witness great presentations by top-class speakers from industry, business and research in dialogue from all over the world, coming from the most diverse fields and disciplines. We are all facing major challenges with regard to our health and the healthcare system of the future. These need to be tackled together, and I am sure that our Summit was once again able to make an important contribution to this," the Dean continued.
"We, as the team of the continuing education and training program 'TUM Sport and Health for Life', again received absolutely positive feedback on the entire event. Special thanks also go to the Educational Laboratory and Dr. Fabian Stöcker's team, which was responsible for the technical implementation," sums up Dr. Sara Schulz, responsible project staff member.
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Renate Oberhoffer-Fritz
Dean Department of Sport and Health Sciences
Chair of Preventive Pediatrics
Georg-Brauchle Ring 60/62
80992 München
phone: 089 289 24601
e-mail: dekanat.sg(at)tum.de
Sara Schulz
TUM Sport and Health for Life
Georg-Brauchle Ring 60/62
80992 München
phone: 089 289 24731
e-mail: sara.schulz(at)tum.de
Text: CCC/Romy Schwaiger
Photos: Dr. Hande Hofmann & Manuela Huber