2023-06-26 05:25:01
26 Jun 2023 at 05:25
More than one in eight children in the Netherlands is overweight or obese. The solution seems simple: eat less and move more. But that is too easy to think of, says health scientist Leandra Koetsier to NU.nl. “There are all kinds of things that make it not so easy to eat less.”
There are several reasons why children become overweight. That is why the help should not only concern nutrition and exercise, thinks Koetsier. Last week she obtained her PhD on the subject at the VU University in Amsterdam. “It may be that there are all other things at play – such as stress and not feeling well – that make it impossible to change behavior.”
That does not mean that food does not play a role at all, but according to Koetsier the emphasis is far too much on weight. “Of course that is a measure of health, but we see it much more broadly.” For example, someone with overweight who was obese before and now feels super good. “That is of course also a profit,” says Koetsier.
Foto: Getty Images
Quality of life
Koetsier is mainly concerned with the quality of life of the children and whether they participate in society. That also influences how they feel about themselves. “When you have other things on your mind, it’s just really hard to make healthy choices.”
About 340,000 Dutch children are overweight. Of these children, 80,000 are obese or severely obese. “If you already have that as a child, it is super difficult to get rid of it,” says Koetsier.
What is obesity?
“Obesity is a chronic disease. Then you have such a build-up of fat that it poses health risks.” Obesity can cause your metabolism and hormones to work less well, so your body is less able to indicate when you are hungry or full.
Obese children can develop type 2 diabetes at an early age. They also have a higher risk of certain forms of cancer and cardiovascular disease later in life. In addition, there are the psychosocial consequences. Think of low self-esteem, being bullied, anxiety and depression. But, Koetsier emphasizes: “It is not the case that everyone who is obese is unhappy.”
Not a diet, but a resistance training
Koetsier conducted research into the ‘Child to Healthier Weight’ approach, which is part of the government’s Youth at a Healthy Weight (JOGG) programme. In this approach, the child and the cooperation between various care and social workers are central. There is one central care provider who coordinates the care and is the point of contact for the child and the family.
In Koersier’s research, the central care provider was often a youth nurse from the GGD. He sees that a child is overweight and immediately checks whether there are other problems in the family. For example, parents may have financial problems that cause them stress or that the child is being bullied. “Maybe debt counseling can help or you can look at resilience training with the child.” In addition, the child and the family receive help in developing a healthier lifestyle.
Currently, 42 Dutch municipalities work in this way. The idea is that in 2030 all 342 municipalities will do this. The first experiences are positive. “We hear from children and families that it is very nice that there is a central person who is the point of contact,” says Koetsier. “They also feel much more heard, because you start to look more broadly than just the weight.” The coming years should show whether the approach will also lead to fewer children becoming obese or obese.
From 1 January 2024, the program that Koetsier studied will be reimbursed from the basic insurance. She is very happy with that. She also hopes that more attention will be paid to a healthy environment, such as less sweets in school canteens and more space for children to play safely outside. “There is not one solution, but all those steps together ensure that we get it on track.”
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