Zundert and Etten-Leur launch family-focused plan to tackle childhood obesity in 2026
Starting March 2026, families in Zundert and Etten-Leur can access tailored support to help children achieve a healthier weight. The initiative, ‘Child to Healthier Weight’, addresses multiple causes of obesity through collaboration between healthcare, social services, and schools, offering personalized guidance for each family.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Name | Child to Healthier Weight |
| Start Date | March 2026 |
| Municipalities Involved | Zundert, Etten-Leur |
| Target Group | Children with overweight or obesity and their families |
| Approach | Family-oriented, ‘one family, one plan’ |
| Key Partners | Pediatric physiotherapists, dietitians, schools, daycare, youth nurses |
| Goal | Guide children and families toward a healthier lifestyle |
Municipalities in the Netherlands play a key role in public health initiatives, particularly those targeting children and families. They coordinate local partnerships between healthcare providers, schools, and social services to address complex issues like childhood obesity through tailored support programs.
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Support for ‘Child to Healthier Weight’ starts in 2026
In March 2026, we will start supporting children with overweight or obesity. For this, the municipality of Zundert, in collaboration with the municipality of Etten-Leur, will launch the approach ‘Child to Healthier Weight’. This is a family-oriented approach where close cooperation between professionals from both healthcare and social domains is crucial, as there are often multiple causes for overweight.
Why is this support needed?
Overweight in children often has multiple causes. Factors such as genetic predisposition, upbringing, social environment, and all the temptations online and in stores play a role. This does not always make it easy for parents to raise their children in a healthy way. Attention and recognition are needed here. Therefore, we are starting ‘Child to Healthier Weight’. This is a chain approach in which the municipality, together with partners such as pediatric physiotherapists, pediatric dietitians, schools, daycare centers, and youth nurses, will work together to guide children and their parents. The goal is ‘one family, one plan’, where a youth nurse will work with the family to see which professionals can guide the child and family towards a healthier weight.
Asking for and receiving help is okay
At EenVandaag, they discussed this with pediatrician and professor Edgar van Mil. He is also the founder of the Expertisecentrum Leefstijlgeneeskunde at the Jeroen Bosch Hospital and sees children with overweight almost daily. He told EenVandaag: “People often think: shouldn’t parents just do their best? But parents are already doing that. They deserve some more support from their environment.”
Keep an eye on this website for more information about the start of ‘Child to Healthier Weight’ in 2026.