Groningen province is launching a large-scale initiative to combat rising rates of overweight and obesity, a challenge impacting more than half of the Netherlands’ adult population nationwide [[3]]. The €4.75 million “Vitaal Groningen” project,set to begin in 2026,will prioritize preventative and personalized support delivered directly within local communities. Recognizing obesity as a societal issue rather than simply a matter of personal obligation, the collaborative effort aims to strengthen the region through improved health outcomes for its residents.
Groningen, Netherlands – Rising rates of overweight and obesity are a growing public health concern across the Groningen province of the Netherlands, with the highest prevalence observed in the northeastern region. To address this challenge, a regional collaborative effort called Gezond Groningen (Healthy Groningen) is launching a comprehensive initiative aimed at reducing excess weight among residents.
The project, known as Vitaal Groningen, has received €4.75 million (approximately $5.1 million USD) from the National Program Groningen’s Implementation Program for Health (2024-2025) to support its work. The initiative will begin in 2026 and focus on providing tailored support within local communities to help residents achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
“This collaboration is focused on ensuring healthy growth and healthy aging,” said Provincial Executive Pascal Roemers of the Groningen province. “We aim to raise awareness about the importance of health.”
The prevalence of unhealthy lifestyles in Groningen is higher than the national average, prompting a broad, province-wide approach. Vitaal Groningen will emphasize personalized interventions delivered within individuals’ own environments. This includes fostering collaboration between residents, healthcare professionals, and local organizations to promote awareness, healthier behaviors, and supportive living conditions in neighborhoods and villages.
“Overweight is too often seen as a matter of personal responsibility, but that’s not how it works,” explained Nynke Scherpbier, Professor of General Practice at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) and chair of the Vitaal Groningen steering group. “Obesity is a disease, with primarily societal causes. As a region, we have a collective responsibility. The funds from the National Program Groningen are intended to strengthen the region, and good health is, of course, an essential part of that. You can’t build a strong region without investing in healthy residents.”
Trudy Oldenhuis, a general practitioner and chair of DokNoord, added, “There is also a need for a supportive role from general practitioners in the treatment of overweight. Addressing weight requires coordinated interventions and treatments, and this approach aims to facilitate that.”
Starting in 2026, all municipalities within the Groningen province will implement new forms of collaboration between healthcare, welfare, lifestyle promotion, sports, and education. The initiative will target adults with overweight or at risk of developing it, strengthening partnerships between general practitioners, practice nurses, dietitians, lifestyle coaches, physiotherapists, pharmacists, community sports coaches, welfare coaches, and local initiatives. Students from vocational, higher professional, and university programs will also participate, contributing their knowledge and skills to the effort.
Vitaal Groningen will focus on three key pillars:
- Strengthening lifestyle support for residents through coordinated care and welfare professional guidance.
- Providing vouchers to help residents create healthier living environments and prevent overweight.
- Engaging students from various fields to collaborate with residents and professionals on practical health and lifestyle solutions.
The regional approach is designed to integrate seamlessly into the daily lives of residents, offering more personalized support by connecting healthcare and welfare services. Local initiatives will receive renewed energy and resources. “Neighborhood initiatives play a crucial role in the approach in villages and neighborhoods,” said Johan Brongers, chair of the Tintengroep, representing Groningen’s welfare organizations. “Residents themselves know what works best in their own environment. This helps to stimulate healthy behavior and prevent overweight.”
The initiative also aims to incorporate student perspectives and practical learning experiences. This collaborative effort is expected to contribute to healthier, more livable, and sustainable communities throughout the Groningen province. Vitaal Groningen is part of the Groningen province’s Implementation Program for Health and involves collaboration between Gezond Groningen, the Groningen municipalities, the GGD Groningen, welfare organizations, DokNoord, the UMCG, Menzis, WIJS, and regional knowledge and educational institutions (RUG, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Noorderpoort, Alfa College, Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health).
This comprehensive strategy underscores the growing recognition that addressing obesity requires a multi-faceted approach that considers both individual behaviors and the broader social and environmental factors that influence health.
