Amsterdam's healthy-weight program cuts number of overweight, obese children by 12%
Though many areas of the world are seeing an increase in childhood obesity rates, Amsterdam has cut the number of overweight and obese children by 12 percent through city-wide “healthy-weight program" that has kids weighed regularly and tested for balance and agility.
Between 2012 and 2015, the rate of overweight or obese children decreased from 21 to 18.5 percent.
The healthy-weight program costs $7.3 million (€6 million) and is supported by various political parties. The program is managed primarily by existing professionals including teachers, nurses, social workers and community leaders. Dietitians and fitness instructors also work to provide guidance on cooking healthier meals and engaging in more physical activity.
"We have managed to build a whole systems approach in Amsterdam," said Karen den Hertog, the deputy program manager of the healthy-weight program. “Once we decided what the message was, we were surprised by the enthusiasm from our partners—youth workers, schools, teachers, doctors and nurses.”
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As a senior news writer for TriMed, Subrata covers cardiology, clinical innovation and healthcare business. She has a master’s degree in communication management and 12 years of experience in journalism and public relations.