From an early age, it is very important to pay attention to the diet of children so that they do not end up overweight, or even obese, growing up.
The child must also do a physical activity and be away from screens, as explained by the health consultant of Europe 1, Jimmy Mohammed.
In France, one in two adults is overweight or obese.
And one of the keys to avoiding this situation would be in early childhood.
According to an Australian study, from the age of 18 months, attention should be paid to the diet and physical activity of the little ones.
The doctor Jimmy Mohamed exposes in the morning of Europe 1, Tuesday, the good gestures to prevent childhood obesity.
"Obesity is a complex disease. It is not just a bad diet but an inadequate lifestyle, such as insufficient physical activity or an unbalanced diet. This can promote it in children. It was previously difficult. to determine from what age these bad habits can have an effect on the weight of the youngest.
Australian researchers looked at children as young as 18 months old.
They were divided into two groups: one with a healthy lifestyle, that is to say a regular consumption of fruits and vegetables and an adapted physical activity, and the other with a sweet, fatty diet and a lot of time spent on the screens. .
Those with an inadequate diet and not very athletic saw their weight increase normally until the age of 5, before falling into overweight and childhood obesity.
Health complications for these children
From the age of 18 months, it is therefore possible to act on children's weight by adopting the right behaviors.
We must realize the importance of early childhood as a critical period for the development of overweight and obesity.
And for good reason, in France, one in two adults is overweight or obese.
And an overweight child often suffers psychologically, even if he is not going to express it.
Schoolmates are often not kind to each other.
>> Find Jimmy Mohamed's column every morning at 8:37 am on Europe 1 as well as in replay and podcast here
There are also metabolic complications of being overweight.
Hypertension is, for example, more and more frequent in the youngest.
They can also be subjected to type 2 diabetes or even sleep apnea.
The obese child is also deficient in vitamins and iron.
The best prevention: sport
So to prevent this phenomenon, it is necessary to regularly consult the pediatrician or the attending physician at least once a year.
Even when everything is going well, it will control the weight and height of the children which you have to report on the famous growth chart, because the weight taken separately is of little interest.
It is necessary to compare it with the weight and height of other children of the same age and calculate the famous BMI, that is, the body mass index.
Finally, the best prevention also starts with a little physical activity.
Allow at least 60 minutes per day for children up to the age of 18. "