For fat and thin. Prevention of overweight and obesity and the risk of eating disorders

The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport has started a large number of initiatives to prevent overweight and obesity, which are mainly focusing on a healthy diet and sufficient physical activity. In the context of these so-called prevention projects, the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport has asked the Health Council of the Netherlands to advise on the question whether the increased attention paid to overweight and obesity is a risk factor for the development of eating disorders. In this advice, a specially appointed Committee concludes that little is is known about the effect of the prevention of overweight and obesity on the risk of eating disorders. However, what is known is not any cause for concern. Therefore there is no need to modify the current prevention policy focusing on a healthy diet and sufficient physical activity.