Sufficient provision in the neighbourhood, but insufficient reach
Various (healthcare) professionals and primary schools are active in and around the Grote Beemd multifunctional accommodation centre in Reeshof. In addition, there is a diverse range of sports and physical activity programmes.
Yet the parties do not always manage to find one another, and there is no clear overview of the initiatives. As a result, children who could potentially benefit from these initiatives are not reached.
Focus on prevention is important
Although the percentage of children with overweight is rising in Reeshof, this problem appears to be less prevalent in and around the Grote Beemd. Nevertheless, (healthcare) professionals and representatives of the primary schools consider it important to focus on prevention. Here, too, there are indications that children have unhealthy eating habits and do not exercise enough.
Schools should pay more attention to healthy and active lifestyles
School is an important environment for encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle among children. The primary schools interviewed also consider this subject important, but do not give it priority. There is too little time for it alongside the regular school subjects.
More collaboration with JOGG, childcare services and (healthcare) professionals in the neighbourhood could potentially help. For example, when implementing a Healthy School approach.
Lifestyle as part of a broader range of activities
Overweight among children is a multidisciplinary family problem that requires the efforts of various (healthcare) professionals. However, a separate intervention for this target group is not desirable, as it may have a stigmatising effect.
Lifestyle activities can also be part of a broader range of activities for all children in the neighbourhood. For example, sports and physical activity combined with creative and play activities. This could also help encourage the participation of children with overweight.
Group interviews and interactive workshop
For this study, group interviews were conducted with (healthcare) professionals based in and around the Grote Beemd (n=7) and with representatives of two primary schools in the Grote Beemd (n=3). In addition, an interactive workshop was organised for Year 6 pupils (n=27) from a primary school. Information was gathered and shared during the workshop on encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle.
Read the full findings in the report ‘Needs assessment in the Reeshof neighbourhood – towards an intervention aimed at a healthy and active lifestyle for children (with overweight)’.