[The health of children in the Netherlands: relatively healthy, but lifestyle raises some concerns]. / De gezondheid van de Nederlandse jeugd: relatief gezond, maar leefstijl vraagt aandacht.

ABSTRACT

Dutch young people are generally healthy, and more than 80% of them feel healthy and happy. This percentage is high compared with other European countries. Infant mortality rates are low, and the prevalence of most health problems among children is less than 10%. However, children from risk groups more often engage in unhealthy behaviours or have psychosocial problems. Adolescents smoke and drink less than they did 10 years ago, but extreme alcohol use has increased. The number of overweight children has stabilised in the past few years, but remains at a high level. These trends are expected to follow the same line in the future. Attention to the increasing use of social media is important, and the increasing number of high-risk children will also require attention. Due to these changes, along with policy changes in the provision of healthcare services for young people, intensive communication and cooperation between general practitioners, healthcare physicians, and care workers responsible for young people is increasingly important.