For fat and thin. Prevention of overweight and obesity and the risk of eating disorders

The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport has started a large number of initiatives to prevent overweight and obesity, which are mainly focusing on a healthy diet and sufficient physical activity. In the context of these so-called prevention projects, the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport has asked the Health Council of the Netherlands to advise on the question whether the increased attention paid to overweight and obesity is a risk factor for the development of eating disorders. In this advice, a specially appointed Committee concludes that little is is known about the effect of the prevention of overweight and obesity on the risk of eating disorders. However, what is known is not any cause for concern. Therefore there is no need to modify the current prevention policy focusing on a healthy diet and sufficient physical activity.

Committee

• Prof. I.D. de Beaufort, chairperson
  Professor of health ethics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam
• Prof. J. Brug
  Professor of epidemiology, Free University Medical Center, Amsterdam
• Dr K.E. Davis
  Senior women’s studies researcher, University of Utrecht
• Dr E.F. van Furth
  Clinical psychologist, Ursula Eating Disorders Center, Leidschendam
• Prof. H.W. Hoek
  Head of psychiatry training, Parnassia Bavo group, The Hague and professor of psychiatry, Groningen University Medical Center
• Prof. A.T.M. Jansen
  Professor of psychology of eating disorders, University of Maastricht
• Prof. F.J. Meijman
  Professor of medical science and public communication and the history thereof, Free University Medical Center, Amsterdam
• ir. R.J. Metaal, advisor
  Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, the Hague
• Dr G. Noordenbos
  Clinical psychologist, University of Leiden
• Dr A. Oenema
  University lecturer on determinants of healthy behaviour, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam
• Prof. J.A. Romijn
  Professor of endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center
• Prof. J.C. Seidell
  Professor of nutrition and health, Free University, Amsterdam
• Dr T. van Strien
  Psychologist, Radboud University Nijmegen
• Dr R.M. Weggemans, scientific secretary
  Health Council of the Netherlands, The Hague