“The successive confinements have had a very negative impact on the good behaviors that would prevent overweight or obesity”, adds Dr Claire Jeandel.
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“The food industry certainly has a very strong role to play”estimated on franceinfo Dr Claire Jeandel, pediatrician, head of the specialized Obesity Center at Montpellier University Hospital, while cases of obesity and overweight increased sharply among the youngest at the start of the health crisis, according to a study carried out in Val-de-Marne and confirming other work already carried out abroad.
franceinfo: How do you explain this overweight?
Dr Claire Jeandel : Overall, these are all the usual determinants such as the marked reduction in physical activity, the fact of precariousness, gender because it seems that girls are more affected than boys.
The children studied are just over four years old. Does this phenomenon affect all age groups?
At first, yes. The successive confinements have had a very negative impact on the good behaviors that would prevent overweight or obesity. Changing behavior is a complicated thing. Very young or not, it is far from being won. Often early education in good habits or health education is the guarantee of a positive later result. So, you have to get into the right habits.
Beyond physical activity, do eating habits play an important role?
Yes, and the food industry certainly has a very strong role to play. It is also necessary to work on the excessive use of screens which creates changes in sleep and sometimes also a lot of stress. We know that stress can cause weight gain. The environmental determinants are multiple.
What are the recommendations?
We need physical activities from an early age and as much as we can. 30 minutes a day optimally. Very young children spontaneously move much more than preteens, but conditions must also allow it. Unfortunately, the most precarious situations are the most impacted.