Study on Plant-Based Diet Targets Children - Germany's Coplant Study Expands to Track Kids' Diets Alongside Parents' Food Choices

Germany's largest research project on plant-based diets has now expanded to include children and families. The Coplant study, led by the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), will examine how dietary habits develop within households. Up to 200 parent-child pairs will join at two key locations: the Max Rubner Institute in Karlsruhe and the BfR in Berlin. The Coplant study first launched in June 2023, tracking up to 6,000 adults aged 18 to 69. Participants were divided into four dietary groups: vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, and omnivorous. Now, the project has entered a new phase called kids/family, opening its doors to younger participants.

All children and adolescents aged 2 to 17 can take part, provided at least one parent is already enrolled in the main study. Researchers will measure each child's height, weight, blood pressure, and pulse, though no biological samples will be taken. Both parents and children will then complete detailed interviews about family eating routines, nutritional knowledge, and daily food choices. The study aims to uncover whether children mirror their parents' dietary patterns and what social and psychological factors shape their habits. Issues like family environment, screen time, and parental influence will be closely examined. Early data from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland suggests high screen use often leads to convenience foods rather than structured meals. Rebekka, an 11-year-old from Karlsruhe, has already joined the study—despite her vegetarian mother, she follows a different diet herself. Researchers hope to understand how families engage with plant-based foods in everyday life. The findings could reveal how lifestyle choices and social dynamics influence children's long-term eating behaviours.

The expanded Coplant study will provide detailed insights into how dietary habits form within families. By tracking both parents and children, the research may highlight key factors that shape young people's food choices. Results could inform future guidelines on nutrition and family health in German-speaking regions.