We know that being overweight can lead to many health problems and is still on the rise among the Dutch population. According to scientists at the University of Amsterdam, we need to tackle this problem at its core: public spaces filled with unhealthy food. “It’s not just about eating less and exercising more—or even taking a weight-loss pill,” says sociologist Christian Bröer. “The perverse thing is that with that approach, we’re actually perpetuating the very market that produces obesity.” Christian Bröer is also active in MetaHealth’s WP1.
In a recent news release, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) reports that the new Food Pressure Monitor reveals the extent to which residents in Dutch municipalities are surrounded by healthy or unhealthy food options. Researchers from the University of Amsterdam and Amsterdam UMC developed the “food pressure” metric for this purpose, which indicates how healthy the food environment is for each area. The initial application in ten municipalities shows that the average food pressure there is predominantly unhealthy, with significant differences between neighborhoods.
Read the news article about the Food Pressure Monitor (In Dutch)
And also read the previous news article on this topic: Combat unhealthy food dominance with a healthy environment
