Overweight in the Netherlands

A creative solution to fight overweight in the Netherlands

When we talk about the benefits of public transport, we mainly talk about its effect on the environment and traffic congestion. New research shows there is a connection between the extent to which public transport is used and the degree of obesity.

Research from the University of Illinois shows that higher participation in public transport is associated with a lower percentage of obesity among residents of different areas in the US [1]. The researchers compared and analyzed data from different counties. They found that a 1% increase in participation was associated with a 0.473% lower prevalence of obesity. This confirms earlier research that saw a decrease of 0.221 percent. Although the strength of the association differs between the two studies, it is statistically significant in both cases.

Running for the bus?

The researchers give a number of obvious possible explanations for this.

If you take public transport to work instead of the car, that often means you have to walk longer distances. You also never have to worry that your car will drive away right in front of you. If we knew the most common reasons why adults break into a sprint, I think "catching the bus" would be at the top. A nice alternative when you want to cut body fat. ;)

But also if you do not have private transport as an option, or especially then. Access to public transport can mean the difference between sitting at home and having weekly activities and movement outside the house.

The study was a computer-driven analysis of the availability of medical facilities and transport in 227 counties in 45 different states in 2001 and 2009. The analysis included factors such as leisure-time physical activity, income, health insurance coverage and public transport facilities.

For the study, they tried to account for as many factors as possible that could influence body weight. They did this, among other things, by measuring across different periods.

"The new work takes a longitudinal approach, meaning that we examined differences between 2001 and 2009, allowing us to better control for factors that could otherwise influence the analysis... For example, factors like weather or physical geography that can influence the obesity rate of a county in both 2001 and 2009 are controlled since their impact is present in both time periods

Douglas M. King, University of Illinois

Personal effects unknown

Although the researchers offer possible explanations as described above, the personal effect is unknown. They can only say that in regions where people take public transport more often, obesity is less common. It does not necessarily mean that a specific individual has a lower chance of being overweight by traveling more often by bus or train. Nor did the study take into account the fact that services such as Uber and Lyft have started playing a larger role since 2009.

The data do show, in any case, that investing in public transport can have positive effects on public health. In this case, by reducing the chance of obesity.

That gives us even more reason to complain about the fact that, damn it, we apparently have the most expensive public transport in Europe.

Our solution

Helping you find your physical or mental FIT is our mission. Okay, that sounds rather lofty, but it is our mission statement. Find your physical or mental health.

For years, we have contributed in the form of knowledge. In the articles on the blog, we try to communicate both the basics and the latest scientific insights in an understandable way. But that is not enough. To really bring knowledge about movement and eating to people, more is often needed. A helping hand that looks at your personal situation, what lifestyle pattern should be worked toward and how this can best be achieved. Losing weight often turns out to be a lonely road, as recently became clear again.

But it does not have to be.

That is why we have also been working for a few years on the development of the FITsociety app, which recently underwent major improvements again. As far as we are concerned, it is the platform to bring coach and client together. Finding the right coach could be just as difficult as finding the right information. A coach is still often seen as a luxury, or as something for people who want the physique of a fitness model. In today's figures, I see confirmation that many more people need this kind of help.

A basic need for a healthy life.

Fortunately, the cabinet also seems to recognize this after advice from the Zorginstituut and health insurer CZ. A proposal for reimbursed lifestyle coaching only still needs to be approved by the House of Representatives. The proposal concerns people "who have a chronic disease such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease, or who are at risk of developing such conditions". Overweight is of course seen as an important risk factor for developing such conditions.

After referral by a general practitioner, coaching could be followed for 7 months, with the costs kept outside the deductible.

Of course, we hope that body weight will then also be made discussable with and/or by the general practitioner where necessary. Something that often does not happen now, or happens too late.

The solution

But however fantastic we think we are, and however fantastic we think our app and the coaches in it are, we have to acknowledge that even if we could provide everyone with a professional coach free of charge, the problem would still not be solved. At most, we would then be much more successful in fighting a symptom. After all, we would change nothing about the mismatch between the settings of our body and the influence of our environment.

The real final solution is a little scary, however. Reducing that mismatch cannot be done without drastic measures. This could be done, for example, by changing the environment and treating unhealthy food like tobacco. We already do this in part. As Aldi announced this week, it will stop selling energy drinks to children under 14. For now, these are usually voluntary actions, where marketing probably expects the goodwill gesture to compensate for falling sales. Or companies offer a "healthier alternative", such as the McDonald's and Coca-Colas of this world with light products and salads. But those are drops in the ocean.

Truly turning off the heat under that plate completely is impossible. I will not be the only one demonstrating at the Malieveld if all fast food were banned. I also do not see a committee happening that decides for every type of food whether it contains the right calorie-to-nutrient ratio. Phasing out smoking as a right is one thing, but a Big Mac? Besides, you can also get fat on grandma's stew. Overweight is determined by the amount of food as well, not just the type. So, back to food ration coupons?

I personally look for the real solution more on the other side: adapting our body so that it can better handle our fattening environment. A hope I have expressed here more often. The hope that all those new medical insights will lead to medication that is much more effective and safer at burning excess fat tissue.

Until then, however, I am betting on a coach who gets after your lazy ass.

And you can find that coach through the FITsociety app