Health insurers should be required to offer health improvement programmes as part of the standard package of insured treatment, according to the health insurance council CvZ.

In particular, programmes to help people lose weight will be beneficial, the council says in its new recommendations to the health ministry, Trouw reports.
The government decides what basic elements are covered by health insurance and insurers can add extra items in supplementary policies. The CvZ is an influential advisory body.
Trouw says some 235,000 people ask their doctors help with losing weight every year.
The new measure should be included in the basic policy from 2012, the CvZ said.