Obesity in children | France 2 | Envoyé Spécial

Obesity which for a long time was considered an illness unique to North America where 55% of the population suffers from various forms of obesity, has in the last ten years become a problem in most of the developed countries. In fact today, 29.4% of the French are overweight (12.9 million people), 9.6% of them are obese (4.2 million people) and 13.2% of children under five are overweight (5.7% in 1990). (Source Obépi and CHU of Lille). Today it is estimated that one child in ten is obese by the age of ten (one upon four in the United States). If obesity appears before puberty, the risk is from 20% to 50%. After puberty, the risk is from 50% to 70%. Obesity is due mostly to bad eating (too rich, unstructured meals, snacking etc.) and sedentary life habits (2 hours 15 minute average TV by day, video games, very little natural” physical activity, not doing enough sports etc.) The only solution for the children–to be on a balanced diet. There’s a long and difficult follow up, one must be attentive at each instant, the children don’t understand, the parents are often helpless but it is the indispensable link to medical treatment.”