Health promotion and disease prevention are among RIVM's core tasks. As health promotion in the Netherlands involves many players, the challenge is to merge national and local approaches effectively. That is what the RIVM Centre for Healthy Living addresses. The Centre encourages systematic, informed approaches, supports local professionals and policy-makers and coordinates health promotion across the country.

Improving public health and promoting physical activity are core tasks of the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). Physical inactivity is associated with chronic conditions such as coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, colon cancer, overweight and obesity. These conditions cause a large burden on the health care system and health care costs. Physical inactivity is a global public health priority. RIVM is actively involved in this topic, both at national and international level.

How people live and where, can have a significant influence on their health. There are many organisations in the Netherlands which work to improve public health. They provide advice to encourage people to adopt a healthier lifestyle and devise measures to help them do so. These measures are known as ‘lifestyle interventions’. Many lifestyle interventions are based on the results of health surveys and screenings.