In France, between 20 and 25% of children are overweight and 5% of them are suffering from childhood obesity.

Guest of "Sans rendez-vous" on Wednesday, the pediatrician Béatrice Dubern explains her origins and gives the best ways to approach this pathology.

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In France, it is estimated that 20 to 25% of children today are overweight.

"It's a lot, but it's a figure that has remained stable for 15 years", explains Béatrice Dubern, pediatrician at Armand-Trousseau hospital in Paris.

Among them, 5% of children are obese, a proportion that is also unchanged.

The only change is the age of the children concerned: they get younger and younger with the years.

Invited Wednesday from Europe 1, Béatrice Dubern detailed the causes of this childhood obesity and explains to parents how to tackle this pathology, which cannot be treated with restrictive "counterproductive" diets. 

Where does childhood obesity come from? 

Contrary to what one might think, childhood obesity is not necessarily linked to "junk food" and sedentary lifestyle.

"We can have weight problems and eat healthy. On the contrary, eat poorly and stay thin, especially children," recalls Béatrice Dubern.

The latest studies on the subject link early childhood obesity to genetic predispositions.

Children who have it often have at least one parent who has it.

Other elements may come into play.

Lack of sleep or a strong psychological shock sometimes lead to weight gain, these elements however remaining at the margin. 

How to diagnose it? 

Overweight and obesity markers can be easily read on the curves of health charts.

Calculating body mass index (BMI) is also a good tool.

Be careful, however, not to draw conclusions too quickly, recalls Béatrice Dubern.

"A big baby is not worrying: most children lose their possible excess weight as soon as they learn to walk. But if the child does not get thin around 4 years old, then you have to keep an eye on the curves. "

What are the best ways to approach it?

An overweight child is more prone to deficiencies, explains Béatrice Dubern, especially in iron, calcium and vitamin D. It is therefore important to take care to rectify this lack, with meat or growth milk for iron, dairy products for calcium and two ampoules of vitamin D per winter.

Tablets can also be prescribed by a doctor.

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To treat childhood obesity, there is no question of making children adopt restrictive diets.

"They are often counterproductive, with rapid weight gain. They can also lead to eating disorders in adolescence."

It is therefore better to ensure that children eat in the right amount.

"Many parents realize quite late that they are giving their children adult portions," notes Béatrice Dubern.

Another reflex to adopt: ensure that the child is accompanied during the snack.

If he is alone at home on his way home from school, and not at study, for example, this time is particularly conducive to excess.