The LIFE Child study: a population-based perinatal and pediatric cohort in Germany

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 31, 2026

Expansion of Embryonic and Adult Neural Stem Cells by In Utero Electroporation or Viral Stereotaxic Injection
19:45

Expansion of Embryonic and Adult Neural Stem Cells by In Utero Electroporation or Viral Stereotaxic Injection

Published on: October 6, 2012

17.6K

Tanja Poulain1, Ronny Baber2,3, Mandy Vogel2

  • 1LIFE Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, University of Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Strasse 27, 04103, Leipzig, Germany. tpoulain@life.uni-leipzig.de.

European Journal of Epidemiology
|February 2, 2017
PubMed

Insights

The LIFE Child study tracks healthy child development and lifestyle diseases like obesity in Leipzig, Germany. This large cohort study provides valuable data on children

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health Research
  • Longitudinal Childhood Cohort Studies
  • Lifestyle Disease Development

Background:

  • The LIFE Child study is a large, population-based, longitudinal childhood cohort study in Leipzig, Germany.
  • It is part of the LIFE Research Center for Civilization Diseases, focusing on healthy child development from birth to adulthood.
  • The study investigates the development of lifestyle diseases, including obesity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To monitor healthy child development from birth through adulthood.
  • To understand the etiological factors and progression of lifestyle diseases in children.
  • To analyze comprehensive data for insights into contemporary childhood development.

Main Methods:

  • The study comprises three interrelated cohorts: birth, health, and obesity cohorts.
  • Utilizes a comprehensive program of medical, psychological, and sociodemographic assessments.
  • Involves the collection of biological samples for in-depth analysis.

Main Results:

  • Over 3000 children participated by the end of 2015, with high continuous participation rates (two-thirds).
  • Extensive data acquisition, process management, and analysis are supported by a professional multidisciplinary team.
  • The article reports on the volume of available and analyzable data, highlighting study potential.

Conclusions:

  • The LIFE Child study offers profound insights into child development in the 21st century.
  • The large dataset and ongoing data collection demonstrate significant research potential.
  • The study is crucial for understanding and potentially mitigating lifestyle diseases in childhood.

Keywords:
ChildrenCohort studyEpidemiologyLongitudinal studyObesityPregnancy

More Related Videos

Analysis of Immune Cells in Single Sciatic Nerves and Dorsal Root Ganglion from a Single Mouse Using Flow Cytometry12:34

Analysis of Immune Cells in Single Sciatic Nerves and Dorsal Root Ganglion from a Single Mouse Using Flow Cytometry

Published on: December 6, 2017

12.2K
Single-Cell Optical Action Potential Measurement in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes08:39

Single-Cell Optical Action Potential Measurement in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes

Published on: December 22, 2020

4.8K

Related Concept Videos

Longitudinal Research02:20

Longitudinal Research

Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...
Data Collection by Observations01:08

Data Collection by Observations

Data collection refers to a systematic way of obtaining, observing, measuring, and analyzing accurate information. Observational studies are one of the most widely used methods of data collection. It involves collecting data by observing the behavior and physical characteristics of a sample without making any modifications to the sample.
An astronomer viewing the motion and brightness of stars in the sky and recording the data is an example of observational data collection. A botanist recording...
Study Designs in Epidemiology01:20

Study Designs in Epidemiology

Epidemiological study designs are fundamental tools for investigating the distribution, determinants, and control of health conditions in populations. They help researchers understand the relationships between exposures and outcomes, and they broadly fall into two categories: "observational" and "experimental" studies.
Observational studies are those where the researcher does not intervene but rather observes natural variations. They include cross-sectional, cohort, and case-control studies.
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
Physical Growth During Infancy and Toddlerhood01:18

Physical Growth During Infancy and Toddlerhood

Physical growth is especially rapid during the first three years of life, with the greatest rate in the first few months after birth. Although children continue to gain height and weight throughout infancy and toddlerhood, the rate of growth gradually slows during the second and third years. At most ages, boys are typically slightly taller and heavier than girls, reflecting a common pattern of early physical development.Changes in Body ProportionsAs infants become toddlers, their body...