Next steps for the Healthy Lifestyle Network Europe

A slow-motion health disaster is unfolding due to a lack of knowledge about prevention, as was reported in the news in mid-June 2024. Specialists also predict that healthcare will soon reach a point where it becomes unaffordable and that staff shortages will cause the system to collapse. When add the WHO publication, which states that 70 to 80% of all chronic diseases are lifestyle-related and therefore preventable, it becomes clear what needs to be done. Over the past 70 years, we have collectively and unconsciously become increasingly unhealthy, and due to our conditioning and brain structure, we find it difficult to return to a naturally healthy lifestyle.

Awareness, prevention and support are crucial to turn the tide. That’s why the Healthy Lifestyle Network Europe was established, originating from the New Health project, supported by the European Union.

8 Partners gather in Lisbon

In Lisbon, on June 18, 19, and 20, the Healthy Lifestyle Network Europe meeting took place. Partners from 8 EU countries gathered at the Instituto Português do Desporto e da Juventude (Portuguese Institute for Sport and Youth) to discuss ways to support European citizens with essential lifestyle and prevention knowledge and to provide volunteers and professionals in healthcare, education, and sports with a training program. “With a brief knowledge update, professionals will be more easily able to incorporate the lifestyle and prevention theme into their regular contacts with patients, students, and athletes. This way, health promotion and encouragement come from the community,” said John van Heel, project leader of the network.

European network of Healthy Lifestyle promoters

What is needed in Europe, and actually worldwide, is a network of Healthy Lifestyle promoters. These can be parents who want to ensure a healthy lifestyle for their family, HR employees tasked with positively stimulating the lifestyle of employees, volunteers, but also professionals who already have regular contact with students, athletes or patients. The Healthy Lifestyle Network Europe provides an online knowledge update course and accessible tools. The partners are currently in the midst of developing an online Healthy Lifestyle promoter course (in 9 languages) and discussed in Lisbon, among other things, which additional tools will be made available in a toolbox.

The Healthy Lifestyle promoter course will be available in 9 languages from October 2024, and 1000 volunteers and professionals can participate. Anyone interested can contact info@new-health.eu.

More information about the Healthy Lifestyle Network Europe

Supported by the Erasmus+ program of the European Union.

New Health 2022 project
Project Application nr. : 613045-EPP-1-2019-1-NL-SPO-SCP

HLNE (Healthy Lifestyle Network Europe) 2024/26 project
Project Application nr. : 101133533 - HLNE - ERASMUS-SPORT-2023-SCP