Addressing issues in families more effective in reducing childhood obesity: study

A different approach to childhood obesity can save municipalities, health services, and insurers 2,300 euros per child in annual healthcare costs, according to a study by the VitaValley Foundation on behalf of JOGG, a social organization committed to healthy youth. The “Children to a Healthy Weight Approach” focuses on addressing issues in the child’s life and family instead of only on diet and exercise, the Telegraaf reports.

The method takes a broad look at the family situation and provides assistance where necessary. It was developed by JOGG in collaboration with the VU University Amsterdam. Jutka Halberstadt, a university lecturer in childhood obesity, was one of the leaders. “We saw that obese children were not getting the right help,” she told the Telegraaf.

Children often received help with making healthy meal plans and setting up an exercise regime, but aid givers did not address the financial problems at home, provide assistance with bullying, or provide support because their parents were getting a divorce—all obstacles to a healthy life. The Children to a Healthy Weight Approach looks at all the issues in the family and offers help from a whole network of care providers.

The VitaValley Foundation study showed that this approach is more effective in helping kids achieve a healthy weight. That means they need less youth care or less time in the hospital, for example. As a result, municipalities, GGD health services, and health insurers can save around 2,300 euros in healthcare costs per child per year. Currently, one in eight children under the age of 15 is overweight.

Despite the proven success, only 70 of the over 340 Dutch municipalities are using the Children to a Healthy Weight Approach. According to JOGG, which helps municipalities implement the approach and set up the required network of care providers, that is partly due to a lack of funding from the national government.

The approach saves money once it is implemented, but the implementation itself also costs money. For example, the municipality has to set up a network of care providers. “They partly pay for the costs themselves,” JOGG director Marjon Bachra told the newspaper.