CooL Family has been developed from a clear need. Many participants in the Combined Lifestyle Intervention (GLI) are also parents. They want to not only live healthier themselves but also initiate a lasting change in their other family members. In CooL Family, parents work on their own lifestyle and on healthy habits within the family. The participating parents meet the inclusion criteria of CooL. Group sessions with other parents are combined with family sessions in the home situation.
CooL is the most followed GLI program in the Netherlands. According to figures from the RIVM, as of May 31, 2024, about 55% of all GLI participants were involved in CooL. That amounts to over 66,000 people, the largest share of all recognized GLI programs.
The Lifestyle Monitor shows that children are at greater risk of being overweight if a parent has obesity. Among children aged 2 to 12 years, 22% are overweight if at least one parent has obesity. Among children without a parent with obesity, that figure is 11%.
For children with overweight and obesity, a chain approach for Care and Support for children with overweight and obesity has existed since 2024. In practice, some children still fall outside this approach. CooL Family offers support to these families nonetheless. Even if a child is not yet eligible for reimbursed care/child GLI or when early guidance is intended to prevent heavier care in the future.
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Structure of the pilot
The pilot focuses on:
- healthy routines in daily family life;
- more self-direction and achievable goals;
- better mutual communication and support;
- a supportive living environment at home.
The experiences of the participating coaches will be utilized for further development of the program and preparation for broader implementation.
Emeritus professor of nutrition and health Jaap Seidell on CooL Family: 'A wonderful development, as lifestyle programs with a family-oriented approach are more effective than programs that focus solely on the child. Parents largely determine the eating patterns, shopping, and exercise opportunities at home. Involvement of parents can lead to lasting habits in the entire family. Additionally, parents can set a good example by moving more and eating healthier themselves. The program also offers parenting tips such as rewarding positive choices, which reduces the risk of overweight.'
Pediatrician Angelika Kindermann, AMC: 'A healthy future for children starts at home. What a wonderful development and program, where the whole family is supported. By strengthening the entire system, children (including those who do not yet have overweight) have the chance to grow up in a sustainably healthy environment.
Systemic therapist and child lifestyle coach instructor Marina van Eck: "A child cannot change its lifestyle independently of the family in which it grows up. Therefore, anyone working on lifestyle always works with the whole family.'
Ester Janssen and Nicole Philippens from the Expertise Center Lifestyle Interventions: 'CooL stands for improving the quality of life of people with overweight. The systemic approach of CooL Family looks beyond the individual. By placing the family at the center, there is room for joint routines, mutual support, and lasting behavior change in daily life. Within this family-oriented approach, we work towards benefits for the entire family, where changes in one family member positively impact the next generation.'
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About CooL
CooL (Coaching on Lifestyle) is a two-year GLI program in which participants receive guidance on topics such as nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress, and behavior change through individual conversations and group meetings.
Websites:
https://leefstijlinterventies.nl/
https://academiecoachingenleefstijl.nl/
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