Life insurance companies are charging people who are overweight higher premiums, at an extra cost running into thousands of euros a year, the insurance association has confirmed to news agency ANP and website nu.nl.

New customers for life insurance are being asked to complete a form detailing their height, age and weight. ‘There is now clear, scientific evidence that obese people have a higher chance of dying [early] than people of normal weight,’ a spokesman said.
Aegon told ANP the situation is similar to car insurance, where premiums are higher for drivers at a greater risk of having an accident. ‘Smoking is also playing an increasingly important role,’ the spokesman said.
On Monday,the public health institute said nearly 50% of the Dutch are overweight.