• To test the primary hypothesis that a possible causal factor for the difference in long-term obesity risk between breast and formula fed infants is the much lower protein content of breast milk compared to infant formulae. 
 
• To do this by performing a double blind randomised multicentre intervention trial in healthy infants, comparing isocaloric infant formulae with high and low protein contents, balanced by fat. 
 
• To validate the primary hypothesis with epidemiological observational studies evaluating the effects of different habitual protein intakes with traditional complementary feeding regimes in infants in the same 5 countries. 
 
• To evaluate the relationship between different types of infant feeding regimes on a novel, early anthropometric marker, namely the difference between length at two years and length at birth, or later obesity development. 
 
• To investigate the effects of these infant feeding regimes on body composition, energy expenditure, physical activity, protein metabolism, renal function, leptin and its binding protein and on insulin like growth factor1. 
 
• To disseminate the results widely to the user communities. 
 
• To explore effective preventive strategies by modification of the composition and use of dietary products for infants and thus contribute to significant potential health benefits for the European population. 
 
 
Expected achievements:
 
• Improved health and quality of life by preventing childhood obesity,
• Promotion of the benefits of breast-feeding,
• A better understanding of consumer (parental) attitudes to infant feeding.
 
Applications
 
• The potential for the development of new infant foods (formula and complementary foods),
• The provision of safety data for infant formula with adequate protein content,
• The provision of information for the training of health professionals to make it easier for them to advise consumers about infant feeding.