Thought Leader Thursday – Iris de Vries (Physician and Lifestyle): “Our immune system is insufficiently resistant to infectious diseases”

In the Thought Leader Thursday series, we speak to an expert in the field of a specific issue every Thursday. This week we speak to Iris de Vries, chairman of the Association Doctor and Lifestyle. Iris talks about the state of the lifestyle issue, the role of politics and general practitioners, and the need for connection.

What was the status of the issue before corona?

“There has been quite a movement in the past five years or so. When we started Arts en Leefstijl, you noticed that lifestyle was becoming increasingly important and that more attention was being paid to it. Professionals began to see the need for it. The development of the issue has accelerated considerably due to the corona crisis.”

What happened to the issue due to the corona crisis?

“What we already knew is that lifestyle-related chronic conditions, such as diabetes, COPD and cardiovascular disease, can largely be prevented by a healthy lifestyle. And by a healthy lifestyle we mean more than just healthy food: sufficient sleep, relaxation and exercise are also very important. Forty percent of cancer cases can be prevented through an improved lifestyle. And there are indications that people with cancer who improve their lifestyle have a lower chance of the disease returning.

 In addition, since the corona crisis, it has become even clearer that our immune system is insufficiently resilient to infectious diseases that we should actually be able to ward off. This often has to do with being overweight, and it is precisely this excess weight that appears to weaken our immune system.

 By the way, let's not forget that more deaths occur every year from smoking than from corona. Sometimes it seems like we worry less about that, which I actually find surprising. In addition, the risks of being overweight have been somewhat obscured because we have come to regard it as normal - fifty percent of Dutch people are overweight. It is not normal, and it is a condition in itself because it affects your entire metabolism, your endocrine system and your immune system. This increases the risk of chronic conditions.”

What is the current status of the issue?

“I think there are good and bad things about the lifestyle issue. It's good that there is more attention and we have also been woken up by the corona crisis. We now know better how vulnerable we are to chronic conditions and infectious diseases. The corona crisis also shows us how unhealthy we are together and that we have many chronic conditions. As a result, we are not only insufficiently resistant to infectious diseases, but we also have an unhealthy living environment. There are still many opportunities there and a lot of work to be done. If half of the Dutch are overweight, that indicates that we have to work very hard. Not only for those people themselves, but also for society, because otherwise we will become sicker and our care will be unaffordable.

 There are currently more opportunities to discuss lifestyle and I notice the urgency of the subject. The Senate recently agreed that there should be much less advertising of bad foods for children. So awareness is growing. Of course we knew that being overweight is bad, but the communication is now much clearer: a healthy lifestyle has an effect within a few weeks. It has been shown that even if you lose a few pounds, this can also have a direct effect on your health and immune system. This short-term effect makes the issue more open to discussion and more prominent for many people. It is less of a far-fetched show, something that I think would have happened less if corona had not been there.”

What's planned?

“I expect the next cabinet to create even more awareness of the urgency of a healthy lifestyle. Lifestyle is a key issue: healthcare, but also the economy is linked to it. A second step is that real policy is drawn up, especially in the short, medium and long term. Then we will really have to take the step towards implementation. Many plans are already being made, but not enough is yet getting off the ground. I really want to see that last step now. We want people to know where to find each other, ministries to work together and to take that connecting step together. We've been saying that for some time. Now we have to do that too.

 It is not only politicians' turn, but also GPs' turn. The GP is the linchpin in the Dutch 'care web'. Some of them believe that prevention does not belong with the GP, but in the public domain. That is why we must think carefully about what prevention we are talking about. When we talk about indicated and care-related prevention, the general practitioner certainly has a prominent role to play. If general practitioners were to take on that role, lifestyle medicine could really take off. However, they need to be much more supported and facilitated in this and politics has an important role here! We also often hear that general practitioners enjoy their work more: it is much more fun to really contribute to people's lives, instead of prescribing a pill. Nevertheless, there is also a lot of resistance as to how general practitioners should pick up this in practice, and we as an association offer support in this. Friction creates heat, so let's look for that heat.”

What is your biggest insight of late?

“We know that we have to take steps. We know that we need a better lifestyle and a better living environment. My greatest insight is that we will have to do it together, because ultimately this affects our entire society. We like to find that connection, but it is sometimes difficult. If you want to connect, you will also arrive at deeper, people-related matters. How do you approach life? What is your meaning? How do you want to leave this earth? These essential topics will have to be tapped in order to really connect with each other. We have to find those preconditions. If we succeed, we will really take the next step after constant discussions and making plans.”