About us

Our story

Since 2010, JOGG has been working with various partners to create an environment where every child can grow up with access to healthy food, regular physical activity, and relaxation. We collaborate with more than 260 Dutch municipalities, as we firmly believe that real change happens at the local level. We work closely with them, providing advice, training, and guidance to establish local networks, embedding health in and for all policies (HIAP) and implementing initiatives that promote healthy living. 

On an international level we are member of the international public health networks Euregha and European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) and participating in a broad variety of consortia to encourage and implement our whole systemapproach internationally. 

Facing a complex challenge

Young people are growing up in an obesogenic environment that encourages people to make unhealthy food choices and discourages physical activity.  

The way our environment is designed and how people live makes it hard to make healthy choices. This is certainly true for children, and their caregivers. Some groups of children are more affected than others, but worldwide 1 in 10 children is overweight or obese according to the World Health Organization. 

But it is clear that actions aimed at the individual alone are not enough.

Healthy youth, healthy future

Every child has the right to grow up healthy. To grow up in an environment that makes the healthy choice the easiest choice.  

This is why JOGG works internationally, nationally, and locally with the JOGG approach to make those places healthier where children and adolescents spend most of their time. The approach is holistic  based on the principle of ‘Health in all policies’ which is implemented in JOGG municipalities at the policy (local government), executive (professionals), and neighborhood (residents) levels. 

What is the JOGG Approach?

JOGG represents a governance transformation model that embeds health promotion for children and young people across all relevant municipal domains: urban planning, mobility, education, sport, food systems, and welfare.  

The model has demonstrated it is mature; since its launch in five pilot municipalities in 2010, the JOGG approach has been embedded in over 260 of 380 Dutch municipalities. This development represents one of the most rapid and sustained scale-ups of a whole-systems health promotion model in European public health. The approach is scalable (equally effective in urban, rural, affluent and disadvantaged settings), adaptable (flexible methodology that respects cultural and socio‑economic differences) and has a strong evidence base. 

The approach is built on five operational pillars: (1) establishing a permanent local team (policy advisor and coordinator) inside the municipality; (2) forming a cross‑sector network of schools, sports clubs, youth organisations, healthcare actors, local entrepreneurs and NGOs, all working under a shared “healthy environment” vision; (3) co‑creating a local action plan based on a robust baseline assessment of local determinants of health, ensuring interventions fit the community context and priorities; (4) implementing a portfolio of evidence‑based interventions targeting nutrition, physical activity and mental well‑being, and (5) continuous policy integration and governance strengthening to ensure the sustainable changes become part of standard municipal policy. 

The integrated JOGG approach is evidence-based and recognised by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as an international best practice. 

Based on our approach

We have seen a reduction in the number of overweight children. In neighborhoods where the JOGG approach has been in place for four years, the measured percentage of overweight children and adolescents was 9% lower than in neighborhoods without this approach. The JOGG approach seems to be successful most notably in areas with a low socio-economic status. (Kobes, Kretschmer & Timmerman; University of Groningen (2021), ‘Prevalence of overweight among Dutch primary school children living in JOGG and non-JOGG areas’) 

The JOGG approach prevents people from becoming overweight and thus also preventing related diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, muscle and joint disorders and diabetes. (OECD, 2022 'Healthy Eating and Active Lifestyles: Best Practices in Public Health') 

By scaling-up the approach throughout the Netherlands, potentially we could save €2.72 in healthcare costs per person per year. As well as add 16 more years of life and 19 more years of healthy life, on average, per 100,000 of the population per year, along with greater labor market participation and productivity. (OECD, 2022 'Healthy Eating and Active Lifestyles: Best Practices in Public Health') 

Dr Irma Huiberts conducted five years of independent research on the evaluation of our widely implemented community-based health promotion program. Conclusion of her thesis: keep going. Broad local cooperation to make the living environment healthier is the key to success. The local approach of JOGG makes a real difference. Not by fixating on short-term results, but by making the living environment healthier. With structural efforts. It is scientifically recognised that ist actually works. 

International recognition

Read how international organizations, governments and partners are recognising and learning from the JOGG approach.

Do you have any questions about JOGG or a healthy lifestyle?
Please contact us!