How do you teach children about a healthy lifestyle?

In The Netherlands 12,3% of the children between four and twelve years old are overweight*. In many other countries, including the United States, this percentage is even higher. Children who are overweight have a higher risk of health problems, in their youth as well as at a later age. On seeing these numbers Tim Laning, one of the founders of Grendel Games, figured that for this target audience particularly a game might be a solution. After all, playing is learning!

Garfield as leading character

The Grendel team started looking for a sympathetic character with which children can identify. Hmmm, maybe Garfield, the world-famous cat with a love for junk food and lounging about, could be the perfect leading character. Tim approached Paws, Inc., the company founded by Garfield creator Jim Davis and Jim immediately responded enthusiastically to the idea. The Grendel team got permission to get started on a game in which Garfield plays the leading part.

Healthy lifestyle

Tim: “Garfield is really popular among children. The cat is far from perfect: he loves lasagne and pizza and can’t be bothered to play sports or move around. That fit perfectly with the approach we intended to use: to create a game that is not pedantic but that teaches children about nutrition and a healthy lifestyle in a light-hearted way.”

Innovative health insurance company

Foppe Hemminga, innovation manager at the Friesland Zorgverzekeraar, got involved during the development of the Garfield game. “As a health insurance company we are emphasizing prevention of illness ever more. We have to, because if the current trend continues, more than 30% of our income will be spent on health expenses in 2040. As a comparison: at the moment that’s 16% for the average Dutch citizen. The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) states that half of our health expenses is related to lifestyle. We would like to see children and youths learn about healthy habits. That is both in their own interest as well as in ours: they gain health benefits and we can control health expenditure.”

“We strive to be an online-focused, innovative health insurance company with a lot of attention for vitality and prevention. “

Foppe Hemminga, innovation manager De Friesland Zorgverzekeraar

5000 free Garfield games for members

During the launch in November 2016 De Friesland Zorgverzekeraar offered the first 5000 copies of Garfield vs Hot Dog for free. “We are one of the first health insurance companies to offer its members a seriously entertaining game that assists in vitality and health. This game fits perfectly within the change-over that we are going through as an insurance company. We want to be an online oriented, innovative insurance company with a focus on vitality and prevention.”