The Knowledge Centre for Obesity was established in 2002 with subsidies from the Ministry of Health to enhance knowledge about the aetiology, prevention, treatment options and consequences of overweight and obesity. The Centre has extensive expertise and know-how. 

Its goal is to provide professionals with access to this knowledge and to encourage research. In addition to being a centre for collecting information, the Knowledge Centre is also a place where prevention officers and care providers can find answers to their questions, as well as being an information desk for enquiries and information from, for example, the media. The Knowledge Centre for Obesity also supports the Ministry of Health in the development of policy in the field of obesity. 

The Knowledge Centre is housed with the Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine at the Medical Centre of the Free University of Amsterdam.