Nutrition as a lifesaver: Munich is conducting research against obesity and diseases!

Nutrition as a lifesaver: Munich is conducting research against obesity and diseases!

On July 17, 2025, the Else Kröner Fresenius Center for Nutritional Medicine (EKFZ) at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) celebrated its 20th anniversary. This is a significant milestone in the connection between nutritional science and clinical practice, a goal that the EKFZ has been pursuing since its founding in 2005. Scientists and experts led by Prof. Hans Hauner, the founding director of the EKFZ, emphasize the need to close the existing gap between nutritional research and medicine. This gap is particularly relevant with regard to diet-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes, obesity and certain types of cancer, which can be mitigated or even prevented through effective nutritional strategies. [tum.de reports that…]

The celebrations highlighted the successes and challenges of the last two decades. The exchange between research and practice is promoted through a wide range of offerings such as studies, courses and public events. The EKFZ also actively supports patients through nutritional advice and weight loss courses. Further plans are planned for the future to support the population with scientifically based nutritional information. The Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation plays a central role in this, as Dr. Dieter Schenk, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, emphasizes. The foundation's mission is to make knowledge about healthy nutrition accessible and to continuously promote research in the field of nutritional medicine.

Nutritional medicine as an answer to increasing diseases

The importance of nutritional medicine is also reinforced by current developments. The 11th update on nutritional medicine recently took place at the EKFZ, where 480 multipliers from the health and nutrition industry came together. The first day of the event was dedicated to obesity research and treatment. Prof. Hauner expressed concerns about the increase in obesity and possible future cases of illness, which have been exacerbated by the corona pandemic. This problem and increasing obesity required urgent measures and changes in the nutritional environment of the population. Topics such as the compatibility of grains and milk as well as the health aspects of gluten and histamine were also intensively discussed. The participants also received insights into healthy and sustainable nutritional trends. [ekfs.de reports that…]

An important outcome of the event was the call for the implementation of nudging measures in mass catering to support health-promoting food systems. The focus was also on exchanging ideas about nutritional challenges and finding practical solutions.

Nutrition research initiatives

However, nutritional research encompasses much more than just the work at the EKFZ. Since 2015, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has funded four regional nutritional research competence clusters that deal with different aspects of nutrition. These clusters aim to research the effects of nutrition on health and develop innovative foods. Each cluster, such as “NutriAct” in Berlin-Potsdam or “dietBB” in Bonn, brings together scientists and companies to strengthen nutritional skills in Germany. [gesundheitsforschung-bmftr.de reports that…]

One example is the German Institute for Nutritional Research in Potsdam-Rehbrücke, which deals intensively with the molecular causes of nutrition-related diseases and is part of the “NutriAct” cluster. The interdisciplinary approach within nutritional research is considered crucial to developing health-promoting nutritional recommendations and increasing consumer confidence.