At Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, researchers, students and staff are looking for answers to these questions. Through education and research, and in close collaboration with partners, they focus strongly on prevention. Because preventing illness is better than curing it.
That focus is urgently needed. Supermarket shelves overflowing with soft drinks, sweets and crisps – combined with advertising that promotes foods high in fat and sugar – make it difficult for consumers to make healthy choices. On top of that, food hypes, nutrition myths and diet culture add further confusion, our scientists observe. Meanwhile, we sit for too long and exercise too little.
VU Amsterdam researchers are studying how people can make healthier choices for their bodies, their teeth and their brains, despite these obstacles. For example, they’re analysing how children learn to walk and which forms of physical training help older adults remain independent.
Prevention also plays a key role in tackling obesity and being overweight, and the associated cardiovascular diseases. In the Netherlands, one in seven children is overweight. Within the Care for Obesity programme, VU Amsterdam scientists are working with parents, public health professionals (GGD), hospitals and children themselves on a successful network-based approach to reduce this figure. In addition, the promising BIO-COMPaSS research into biological age is motivating people to adopt healthier lifestyles.
At the same time, our healthcare system is under pressure. Population ageing, structural budget cuts and rising healthcare costs mean that vulnerable groups are increasingly missing out on crucial care. Diseases like dementia are projected to become more common, with major consequences for healthcare and society, according to our health economists.
Across all these areas, our scientists are committed to making the world healthier, while students are also contributing on campus. Dream teams VU-Vital and Food Choices explore and encourage healthy behaviour, such as taking the stairs more often or opting for a plant-based lunch.
Together, we’re working towards a healthier society. Locally and further afield, as global citizens. For the sake of a better world, for current and future generations.
