One in six youngsters in Flanders is overweight
Despite campaigns aimed at getting young people to consume less sugar and take part in physical activities, more of them than ever before are gaining weight
Preventative approach
The situation is getting worse despite several school campaigns such as eliminating soft drink vending machines. According to food expert Patrick Mullie of the Free University of Brussels (VUB), there is a lack of a comprehensive action plan against obesity.
“The campaigns against soft drink dispensers do succeed in convincing youngsters to drink more water,” Mullie told De Standaard. “But such initiatives have little effect if youngsters trade their simple sandwiches of 500 calories for a sandwich loaded with food at 1,000 calories.” There are also fewer campaign messages reaching students in professional education (BSO), who, according to statistics run a greater risk of being overweight.
According to the Flemish Institute for Health Promotion and Sickness Prevention (Vigez), the government focuses too little on prevention. The government of Flanders currently invests €30 million a year in prevention in the health-care sector, compared to €30 billion in care.
Jo Vandeurzen, Flemish minister of public health, said that the government already invests heavily in prevention among young children “because eating and movement patterns develop during this period,” he said. “But the effects of such actions will only be noticed in the long term.”
Photo: Ingimage
