€4.5 million to get sedentary people to move more
Following a successful pilot project, the government of Flanders has approved funding for a new programme that sees doctors referring patients to “movement coaches”
Moving in the Right Direction
The campaign is following on from a pilot project carried out in Leuven over the last four years. Under the programme, if doctors feel that patients are running health risks because they move too little, they will be able to refer them to “movement coaches”, trained as part of the new project.
The coaches will provide a customised movement plan to help patients develop a more active lifestyle. An inactive lifestyle can lead not only to obesity but also to mental issues, said Vandeurzen.
Examples of concrete suggestions are cycling to work instead of driving or taking public transport, to go swimming once a week or to join a class such as dance lessons. The idea is that patients will continue these activities over the long term.
Costs associated with the coaching will be refunded. Participants will pay €140 for seven hours of individual coaching or €28 for group coaching sessions. Financially disadvantaged people will pay just €28 or €14. The pilot project in Leuven showed that 37% of the participants was disadvantaged.
Photo: Ingimage
