Being overweight is not just an adult problem. In total, 20% of children and adolescents suffer from weight problems and obesity. A question to be taken very seriously: obese or overweight children indeed develop numerous iron and vitamin D deficiencies, which are nevertheless necessary for their development and growth. How should parents react? How to take care of these children? Five-point answer with Béatrice Dubern, pediatrician at the Armand-Trousseau children’s hospital in Paris, guest of the show Well done for you, on Europe 1.
Reduce portions
Parents feed their children too large portions. People tend to feed small children as well as teenagers. However, adolescents eat more, they have more nutritional needs. It is therefore necessary to reduce the portions. An unstoppable technique: use a dessert plate for your child’s meal because it is visual. The child will not feel like they have less to eat and will not feel frustrated.
Control the snack
It is important that parents control the snack a little. Children are often alone from afternoon tea until dinner, which is sometimes late. And that’s when there are cracks because the children are bored. They will snack, eat, help themselves in the refrigerator. There will be no consequences for children who have no predispositions. But it is more of a problem for a child who tends to gain weight.
Pay attention to deficiencies
Iron deficiency is very common in overweight children. The main sources of iron in children are indeed meat or milk, for the growth of young. However, currently, there are fewer and fewer children who eat meat, especially red meat. This contributes to significant iron deficiency, especially in obese children, because there is inflammation in the fatty tissue.
When you lack iron for too long, you have anemia. The hemoglobin level drops, and this promotes viral infections and ear infections. This deficiency can also lead to problems with brain development. It is therefore necessary to supplement these children.
Rebalance the diet
As with adults, diets don’t work. It is necessary to rebalance the child’s diet, without generating frustration. Consulting a dietitian can be a solution if the child is in pain and wants to lose weight.
Opt for treatment
New treatments exist to promote weight loss in obese children. These drugs are called GLP-1 analogues and work on the feeling of hunger. They were initially used against diabetes.