GIMB - National Framework Plan 2018-2025

An interministerial programme since 2006

To combat the growing problem of obesity and sedentary lifestyles (lack of physical activity) in the population in general, and amongst children and teenagers in particular, the 'Gesond iessen, méi beweegen' interministerial national action plan was launched in the Grand Duchy in 2006.

Its primary objective is to promote a healthy diet and physical activity.

In terms of diet, it aims to improve people's eating habits and ensure healthy food products. In terms of physical activity, the aim is to reduce sedentariness and promote forms of physical activity that are good for health, on an individual and a collective basis.

GIMB is an interministerial programme between the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Sport, the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth and the Ministry of Family Affairs, Integration and the Greater Region, which enables them to work together to improve the health of the population.

GIMB has since become an initiative that has led to many projects throughout the country, both nationally and locally, in schools, municipalities and companies.

The new 'Gesond iessen, méi beweegen' national framework plan

On Friday, 6 July 2018, the Government Council agreed to renewal of the 'Gesond iessen, méi beweegen' (GIMB) programme in a GIMB national framework plan 2018-2025. This agreement allows the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Sport, the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth and the Ministry of Family Affairs, Integration and the Greater Region to renew and confirm their collaboration.

The aim of this interministerial collaboration is to work together to promote a balanced diet and regular and appropriate exercise, and to combat obesity and sedentariness for the whole population.

The actions and measures of the new GIMB national framework plan seek to encourage citizens, whatever their age, to adopt a healthy lifestyle by eating a more balanced diet and undertaking regular, appropriate exercise. The emphasis is also on collaboration and the networking of partners and stakeholders, as well as on the interdisciplinary approach.

Fields of action

The creation of an environment conducive to a balanced diet and regular, appropriate exercise, for instance:

• collaboration with the food industry and large commercial brands
• reformulation of foods high in sugar, salt and saturated fat
• marketing and advertising of food products intended for children and teenagers
• nutritional labelling clarifying the nutritional quality of pre-packaged, manufactured foodstuffs (e.g. Nutriscore)
• recommendations for mass catering (children, adults, elderly people)

Enhancement of the skills necessary to adopt a balanced diet and regular, appropriate exercise by:

• producing annual awareness-raising campaigns for the general public (e.g. fruit and vegetables, food high in sugar, salt and saturated fat)
• promoting the circulation of national and international recommendations
• organising ongoing training for healthcare and education professionals
• developing a school module on diet and exercise for certain professionals

Communication and visibility around activities linked to the GIMB policy, such as:

• consistency of national messages on GIMB topics
• the new procedure for obtaining the GIMB label
• creation of a website with an exchange and information platform
• updating, publication and circulation of national recommendations for certain target groups and settings

Networking and strengthening of collaborations with partners by:

• creating working groups for different target groups and settings: municipalities, the work environment, children and teenagers, elderly people, mass catering, industry, manufacturers and distributors, the farming sector, the sustainable development sector, etc.
• enabling the exchange of best practices between all of these target groups and settings

Epidemiological context

Despite the introduction of many GIMB measures and actions, obesity and sedentary lifestyles are still a public health problem in Luxembourg.

The percentage of obese adults was 15.6 % in 2014, putting Luxembourg 17th in the list of European countries with the highest rates of obesity, ahead of the Netherlands, Belgium and France. The percentage of children aged 6 to 12 who are obese was 5.4 % and who are overweight was 8.4 % in 2016/2017, according to data from the school medicine register.

Obesity and overweight can be prevented to some extent by a balanced diet, rich in fruit and vegetables. And yet, in Luxembourg, consumption of fruit and vegetables in adults and children is low. In 2014, 35.8 % of adults did not consume fruit or vegetables every day and only 15.2 % ate at least 5 portions of fruit and/or vegetables a day (EHIS, 2014). Amongst children 11, 13 and 15 years old, consumption of fruit was also low in 2013/2014 according to HBSC data.

When it comes to regular physical activity, in line with WHO recommendations, there is room for improvement amongst both adults and children in Luxembourg. In 2014, 40.8 % of adults did at least 150 minutes of endurance exercise a week and 37.5 % did no endurance exercise of sustained intensity (e.g. fast walking, running, cycling, swimming) (EHIS, 2014). The percentages of children 11, 13 and 15 years old undertaking at least 60 minutes of exercise of moderate to sustained intensity a day were also low according to HBSC data.