Childhood obesity is becoming a major public health concern in both France and the United States. In France, about 1 in 20 children is obese, while in the United States, it’s 1 in 5. While sedentary behavior, partly due to screen time, contributes to this trend, the impact of ultra-processed foods on children’s health is now a major factor. As a french dietitian, I raise awareness about these effects, which can hinder their growth and overall development.
A worrying trend among children
In France, childhood obesity has increased by approximately 30–40% over the past 20 years, according to Santé publique France. The situation is equally concerning in the U.S., where the rate of childhood obesity doubled during the pandemic. Today, 67% of the calories consumed by American children come from ultra-processed foods, which are high in sugar, salt, unhealthy fats, and additives.
Food marketing: When Spiderman and Paw Patrol appear on our packaging
How did we get here? Children’s food choices are not random. The food and fast-food industries know that taste preferences develop very early, so they have implemented marketing strategies targeting the youngest.
They use cartoon characters to capture children’s attention or donate branded school supplies in U.S. schools. Their goal is to familiarize children with ultra-processed products from a young age. According to journalist Johann Hari, the industry spends over $1 billion per year in the U.S. alone on marketing aimed at children.
These practices have helped popularize foods that promote overweight and obesity. Many of us were exposed as children: Kellogg’s, Kinder, Nutella, McDonald’s, and sodas. A combination of sweet, creamy, crunchy, and salty flavors that’s hard to resist and so addictive.
Major health risks
Scientists have extensively studied the effects of obesity on children’s health. In Johann Hari’s book The Miracle Pill, obesity specialist Giles Yeo from the University of Cambridge highlights:
“When a child is obese, it is very difficult to reverse the trend… It is therefore likely that obesity will persist throughout most of their life.”
Part of the reason is that fat-storage cells, adipocytes, whether empty or full, remain for life and act as “reservoirs ready to refill.” In children, these cells multiply faster, making fat storage more efficient and childhood obesity harder to reverse.
A 2023 review published in Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, indicates that childhood obesity exposes children to serious conditions such as:
- Cardiovascular diseases (Heart problems → Blood doesn’t flow well)
- Dyslipidemia (→ Too many bad fats in the blood)
- Insulin resistance (→ Sugar can’t enter the cells)
- Type 2 diabetes (→ Sugar stays in the blood)
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (→ Fat builds up in the liver)
These diseases rank among the most deadly in Western societies.
Learning to eat better from a young age
Faced with this situation, it is urgent to improve children’s nutrition. The goal is not to forbid foods, but to help children develop their taste.
5 Healthy Habits to Help Children Develop Better Eating Patterns
1. Teach moderation rather than prohibition
Instead of saying, “Don’t eat that cake,” it’s better to explain that cake can certainly be enjoyed, but not every day. Helping children understand moderation allows them to build a healthier and more sustainable relationship with food.
2. Introduce the concept of a balanced diet
Children can learn that different foods play different roles in the body. Explaining where foods come from and how they support growth, energy, and health helps them make better choices naturally.
3. Encourage curiosity and new flavors
Invite children to discover new tastes by trying different foods, such as fresh or dried fruits. This helps expand their palate and teaches them that healthy foods can also be enjoyable.
4. Connect food with how the body feels
When children understand that certain foods help them feel energized, focused, and strong, they begin to see food as fuel for their bodies rather than just a treat.
5. Cook together as a family
Cooking with children encourages curiosity and involvement. When they help prepare a vegetable they didn’t like at first, they are often more willing to taste it, even if it’s just a small bite.
A challenge for the next generation
Improving children’s nutrition is now a major public health priority. The goal is twofold: first, to reverse current trends, and ultimately, to prevent the next generation from becoming addicted to ultra-processed, low-satiety, unhealthy foods.
Nutrition education, cooking with family, discovering new flavors… and regular physical activity are all powerful tools to help the next generation eat better and stay healthy.
As a dietitian, I guide parents in a playful and practical way, helping children develop healthier eating habits and fostering a “delicious, nutritious, and enjoyable” approach to food.
