VIF® | A HEALTH PREVENTION PROGRAMME
THAT MAKES AN IMPACT

OVER 300 MEMBER MUNICIPALITIES

A network of local authorities committed to improving the health and wellbeing of their communities over the long term.

OVER 800,000 PEOPLE REACHED

Prevention initiatives that reach hundreds of thousands of people across France every year.

OVER 250,000 CHILDREN REACHED AGED 3 TO 12

Engaging activities that help children develop healthy habits from an early age.

OVER 3,200 PROFESSIONALS TRAINED

Professionals supported and trained to deliver effective prevention initiatives in their communities.

VIF® IN A NUTSHELL:

More than 300 member municipalities making health prevention a local priority.
A community of elected representatives, professionals and partners actively involved on the ground.
Practical initiatives and proven tools designed to support lasting behaviour change.

"As coordinator of the Vivons en Forme programme across the Valenciennes Métropole area, I have the privilege of actively promoting healthier, more balanced lifestyles. My role is to bring local stakeholders together — local authorities, associations, schools and others — around initiatives that raise awareness and support residents, particularly children and families, in adopting healthier eating and physical-activity habits. Through a collaborative approach, we have been able to implement practical initiatives such as educational workshops and awareness events that strengthen social connections while improving participants’ wellbeing. This experience has shown me the positive impact that collective action can have on health and quality of life across our community. I am proud to contribute to the success of this programme and to the values it stands for."

"I wanted to draw the ministry’s attention to excess weight, which now affects around half of French adults over 30 and is linked to unbalanced diets and insufficient physical activity. The WHO has warned that overweight and obesity prevalence could double worldwide by 2030. Against this backdrop, the VIF® programme has been working for more than ten years to prevent overweight and obesity, with participating municipalities achieving encouraging results. Local authorities nevertheless need support in their community-based prevention work, and national mobilisation is also essential. I therefore called on the minister to strengthen childhood-obesity prevention and to support programmes such as VIF®, which have demonstrated their value through practical solutions for local authorities and communities."

"VIF® has a strong local focus that complements our own work. Local authorities are major players in improving quality of life, and health is a key part of that. The VIF® programme gives residents practical tools and initiatives, particularly around physical activity. By mobilising a broad range of stakeholders, it has helped build greater collective awareness of these issues."

"Food policy prioritises social justice, food education for young people, reducing food waste and strengthening the local roots of initiatives. Vivons en Forme fits these priorities perfectly. I welcome the growing commitment of municipalities that are giving young people the opportunity to develop healthy eating habits through appropriate educational tools and to sustain those habits over time."

"As both a Member of Parliament and Mayor of Wattrelos, I have always been very committed to health prevention. That is why Wattrelos joined the Vivons en Forme programme early on, so that residents could benefit from local initiatives on nutrition and physical activity. This commitment also led us to organise a conference on obesity that brought together more than 200 participants to share experiences and professional practices."

"My constituency in Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany, has a long-standing commitment to health, nutrition and physical activity. The town of Vitré and its mayor, Pierre Méhaignerie, played a leading role in mobilising local stakeholders. Because these initiatives have produced recognised results, we wanted to extend them across a wider area through our Local Health Contract. The aim is to strengthen prevention of non-communicable chronic diseases including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. Prevention is an objective that cuts across political differences, and that shared commitment is essential if we want to make lasting progress."

"Since 2014, Aulnoy has chosen to take part in the Vivons en Forme (VIF®) programme, whose objectives bring together social action, sport, inclusion and education around health and wellbeing. This means reducing social and territorial health inequalities through targeted prevention initiatives and practical support, including workshops, nutrition education and training. The approach necessarily relies on partnership, combining the support of Valenciennes Métropole with the expertise of professionals, associations, local stakeholders and residents. Information, prevention and support are at the heart of the coordination, dialogue and action embodied by VIF®."

"The training and tools provided by the association are highly valued by professionals in the field. Their strength lies in how closely they reflect the realities experienced by local practitioners and families."

"I really enjoyed running these workshops. They are very easy to implement, and the resources guide you step by step. The children shared that enthusiasm and were highly motivated throughout the activities."Feedback collected after implementation of the “New After-School Activities” training.

"Video testimonials from experts are extremely useful when training local professionals. They help people understand the issues more clearly and put the challenges they encounter every day into perspective."