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Netherlands Research programme weight Gain prevention (NHF-NRG): rationale, objectives and strategies

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 59, pages 498–507 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To outline the rationale, objectives and strategies used in a systematically designed research programmme to study specific weight gain-inducing behaviours, their social–psychological as well as environmental determinants, and the effects of interventions aimed at the prevention of weight gain.

Design:

The evidence for potential behavioural determinants and strategies to prevent weight gain was reviewed, and the methods applied within the Netherlands Research programme weight gain prevention (NHF-NRG) project were described. The project is designed according to the Intervention Mapping protocol.

Setting:

The Netherlands.

Subjects:

The main target groups are (a) adolescents (12–16 y) in secondary school, (b) young adults (20–40 y) at the workplace and (c) recently retired people (55–65 y) at home.

Interventions:

Each intervention includes an individual component, in which computer-tailored information is provided. Additionally, interventions are aimed at changing environmental components.

Results:

The short-term results of this project can be expected by the beginning of 2005. Guidelines for nationwide weight gain prevention, based on this research programme, will become available in 2007.

Conclusions:

Based on the few interventions that were evaluated to date, no robust conclusions can be drawn regarding the effectiveness of obesity prevention. The systematic and multidisciplinary design of the NHF-NRG programme enables the identification of potentially effective methods and strategies for the prevention of weight gain.

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Notes

  1. Institute for Health Sciences, Free University, Amsterdam

  2. Centre for Prevention and Health Care Research, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven

  3. Department of Social Medicine and Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam

  4. Knowledge Centre Overweight, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam

  5. Department of Health Education and Promotion, Maastricht University

  6. Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam

  7. Department of Human Biology, Maastricht University

  8. Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University

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Acknowledgements

This study is funded by the Netherlands Heart Foundation (No: 2000Z002).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Education and Promotion, Maastricht University, The Netherlands

    S P J Kremers & J Brug

  2. Institute for Health Sciences, Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    T L S Visscher & J C Seidell

  3. Centre for Prevention and Health Care Research, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands

    T L S Visscher, A J Schuit & D Kromhout

  4. Knowledge Centre Overweight, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    T L S Visscher, J C Seidell & W Van Mechelen

  5. Prevention centre Overweight, Zwolle, The Netherlands

    T L S Visscher

  6. Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    J Brug

  7. Department of Social Medicine and Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    M J M Chin A Paw, W Van Mechelen & H C G Kemper

  8. Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, The Netherlands

    E G Schouten, F J Kok & D Kromhout

  9. Department of Human Biology, Maastricht University, The Netherlands

    M A Van Baak & W H M Saris

Authors
  1. S P J Kremers
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  2. T L S Visscher
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  3. J Brug
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  4. M J M Chin A Paw
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  5. E G Schouten
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  6. A J Schuit
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  7. J C Seidell
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  8. M A Van Baak
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  9. W Van Mechelen
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  10. H C G Kemper
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  11. F J Kok
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  12. W H M Saris
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  13. D Kromhout
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S P J Kremers.

Additional information

Guarantors: SPJ Kremers, TLS Visscher and D Kromhout.

Contributors: SPJK and TLSV were the main authors of the manuscript and assisted in the design of each of the studies presented in the manuscript. JB, MJMCAP, EGS, AJS, JCS, MAVB and WVM are supervisors of the separate studies within NHF-NRG and assisted in writing. HCGK, FJK, WHMS and DK are members of the programme committee and assisted in writing of the manuscript. DK is the principal investigator of the project.

Appendix A: Organisational structure of the NHF-NRG project

Appendix A: Organisational structure of the NHF-NRG project

Programme Committee

D Kromhout, (Principal Investigator), National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven

HCG Kemper, EMGO Institute, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam

WHM Saris, Department of Human Biology, Maastricht University

FJ Kok, Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University

Postdocs

TLS Visscher, Institute for Health Sciences, Free University, Amsterdam/Centre for Prevention and Health Care Research, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven/Knowledge Centre Overweight, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam/Prevention centre Overweight, Zwolle

SPJ Kremers, Department of Health Education and Promotion, Maastricht University

Studies within NHF-NRG

Study 1. ACJ NooyensFootnote 1,Footnote 2, PhD student. Senior researchers: TLS Visscher, AJ Schuit2, W van MechelenFootnote 3,Footnote 4, JC Seidell2,4

Study 2. GJ De BruijnFootnote 5, PhD student. Senior researchers: SPJ Kremers, W van Mechelen, J Brug5,Footnote 6

Study 3. AS Singh3, PhD student. Senior researchers: MJM Chin A Paw3, J Brug, W van Mechelen

Study 4. L KwakFootnote 7, PhD student. Senior researchers: MA van Baak7, SPJ Kremers, J Brug

Study 5. AM WerkmanFootnote 8, PhD student. Senior researchers: EG Schouten8, AJ Schuit

Advisory board

L Vaandrager, Dutch Centre Workplace Health Promotion

B Breedveld, Netherlands Nutrition Centre

R Westerhof, Royal Association of Teachers of Physical Education

B Sorgdrager, Dutch Association of Occupational Medicine

J Joosten, ‘Pensioen in Zicht’, Future Retirement Courses, Odyssee Group

G op het Veld, Netherlands Olympic Committee/Netherlands Sport Confederation (NOC/NSF)

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Kremers, S., Visscher, T., Brug, J. et al. Netherlands Research programme weight Gain prevention (NHF-NRG): rationale, objectives and strategies. Eur J Clin Nutr 59, 498–507 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602100

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