“We need to look at the problem as a whole and not place all the responsibility on the individual,” says a nutritionist.

According to a study, junk food costs more than 12 billion euros per year in health expenditure in France. Head of the Nutrition Prevention Unit at Bichat Hospital (Paris), Boris Hansel points the finger in particular at advertising and “marketing pressure” to which we are “more or less sensitive”, depending on our social background.

“We must look at the problem as a whole and not place all the responsibility on the individual or the industrialist,” estimates on Tuesday, September 17 on franceinfo the doctor and head of the Nutrition Prevention unit at the Bichat hospital (Paris), Boris Hansel. A study published Tuesday, at the initiative of the French Federation of Diabetics and Secours Catholique, puts the cost of health expenses linked to poor diet in France at 12 billion euros.

A figure that does not surprise the doctor, since “We have known for several decades that junk food has an impact on the development of chronic diseases.” However, “the cause is not unique”, according to him. He already puts this amount into perspective with that of “6 billion euros invested in food advertising, a large part of which is dedicated to very fatty, very sweet, very salty foods.” While “it’s 1,000 times less” For “the national health nutrition program”. Boris Hansel also mentions the “marketing pressure”, to which “we are all sensitive”. Products that are not necessarily good for your health, but which “are beautiful, and are associated with people who are on vacation, relaxed, who are doing well, you have a subliminal message: ‘if you eat this, you will be like this'”he explains.

Especially since we are not all equal when it comes to this “pressure”here we are “more or less sensitive” depending on our social environment, and this translates into consultation with the nutritionist. “Obesity is twice as common among people of low socio-professional level compared to higher categories”. “We eat less well when we are at the bottom of the social ladder than when we are at the top”, regrets Boris Hansel, because “It’s cheaper to eat badly.” Especially since promotions very often target products from “junk food”, with “three packets of cakes for the price of one”, for example, and “much less on healthy products”.

On the other hand, Boris Hansel does not allow himself to give “advice on legislation, because that is the role of politicians”he reacts, after the announcement of the United Kingdom to ban advertising for certain products on TV before 9 p.m. “But it’s a clue”Above all “We can wonder, when we see during the peak audiences of major sporting competitions, like the Olympic Games, that the advertising is for sugary soda”The nutritionist mentions another possibility, that of taxes. “We have shown that the soda tax” which came into force in 2012, “was useful”SO, “Perhaps we need a tax on products that are fattier, sweeter, saltier.”