Study on Plant-Based Diet Targets Children - Coplant Study Expands to Explore How Family Diets Shape Children's Eating Habits

The Coplant study, the largest research project on plant-based nutrition in the German-speaking world, has now expanded to include children and families. Coordinated by Germany's Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), the new phase—called 'kids/family'—will examine how parents' eating habits shape those of their children. Up to 200 parent-child pairs will take part at research centres in Berlin and Karlsruhe, with the first participants already enrolled. The core Coplant study launched in June 2023, tracking 6,000 adults aged 18 to 69 over several years. Initially focused on adults, the project has now widened to include children and adolescents aged 2 to 17—provided at least one parent is already part of the main study.

Participants will undergo detailed interviews about family eating routines, nutritional knowledge, and daily habits. Children will also have basic health checks, including weight, height, blood pressure, and pulse measurements, though no biological samples like blood or stool will be collected. The study aims to uncover how social and psychological factors influence young people's diets. Family dynamics, emotional triggers, and societal pressures—such as stress, parental expectations, or social media ideals—play a key role. In some cases, these pressures lead to emotional eating or conflicts during meals, particularly in high-stress or unstable households. Researchers will also explore how different family structures, from separated parents to high-pressure environments, affect children's food choices. One early participant is 11-year-old Rebekka from Karlsruhe, whose dietary habits differ from her vegetarian mother. Her involvement highlights the study's focus on real-life family interactions with plant-based foods.

Findings from the Coplant study will be released incrementally, offering insights into how family and psychological factors shape children's nutrition. The research could help identify risks like disordered eating, which have risen since the COVID-19 pandemic. By examining both dietary patterns and social influences, the project seeks to provide a clearer picture of plant-based eating in everyday family life.