A new game-changer is underway in the fight against youth obesity. King’s College London is one of 16 partners in the EU‑funded PAS GRAS project, operating under the umbrella of OBEClust—a European obesity research network backed by €80 million in funding. The aim? Combine science, education, and policy to create real, impactful solutions for young people in the UK and across Europe.(King’s College London)
Dr Afshan Malik at King’s is leading the UK side, working with metabolic researchers and UK Biobank data to identify biomarkers of obesity and explore how metabolic health differs across populations.(King’s College London)
Why OBEClust is Big News for Youth
- It’s Not Just Science—it’s You.
This isn’t a dusty lab project—it’s designed to improve the lives of real kids and teens. That means better school food, smarter health messaging, and evidence-based support. - Youth-Focused Advocacy.
PAS GRAS isn’t just for researchers. It partners with youth-led advisory groups, drawing on projects like CO‑CREATE which let young people design obesity policy. Teen voices from across Europe are demanding healthier environments and fairer marketing on junk food.(Research and innovation) - Education That Works.
Millions in funding is being used to build nutrition literacy, supportive community programmes, and school-based interventions that young people helped design. It’s about making healthy choices the easiest choices.
The Youth Impact: Hard Data Meets Real Stories
The urgency is clear:
- Over ONE IN FIVE adolescents across Europe are now overweight or obese, especially those in deprived areas.(gla.ac.uk)
- In the UK, adolescents now get around 66% of their daily calories from ultra-processed food—linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and gut inflammation.(nihr.ac.uk)
That level of junk‑food reliance is not just a health issue—it’s a life‑shaping barrier.
How the PAS GRAS/OBEClust Initiative Tackles It
| Strategy | What It Means for Young People |
|---|---|
| Medical Science | Identifying metabolic risk through UK Biobank data—predicting who’s most vulnerable and why.(King’s College London) |
| Youth‑led Policy | Teen task forces propose banning junk‑food marketing near schools, promoting healthy meals, water fountains, and cooking lessons.(Research and innovation) |
| Education & Literacy | Campaigns in schools and online led by scientists and youth, creating relatable content about nutrition and body positivity. |
| Cross‑Country Strategy | Shared projects across eight EU countries mean best practices can move fast—so if it works in Rotterdam, it can roll out in Sheffield. |
