Innovative models for clinical nutrition and financing

By translating the principles of 'disease management' in an insurance environment, health insurance funds play an important role in the management of chronic diseases of their members. The independent health insurance funds in Belgium have developed an obesity disease management approach based on the integration of collective and individual prevention, early detection and immediate action. Incentive monetary prizes are provided if body mass index (BMI) is reduced by at least 5% following participation in the prescribed treatment plan. The independent health insurance funds plan to launch multimedia projects about the program to educate the target audience of lower income, less educated, obese patients.