Nearly one child in five is overweight in France. Faced with “the worrying increase in obesity among the youngest”, Health Insurance announced Thursday the generalization of monitoring for children aged 3 to 12 at risk or in a situation of overweight. With 17% of 6-17 year olds overweight, including 4% obese, “childhood obesity has become a major public health problem”, notes the Health Insurance in a press release.
To curb this scourge, a “proven risk factor” for diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease, Social Security will generalize dietary and psychological monitoring with promising results.
18 follow-up sessions
Called “Mission find your course”, this system tested since 2018 in Seine-Saint-Denis, Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Reunion has enabled the majority of accompanied children to “improve” or stabilize their body mass index (BMI). Along the way, many have also changed their “lifestyles”: less snacking between meals, fewer sugary drinks at the table, more fruits and vegetables.
A sufficiently positive assessment to decide to extend it “to the whole territory” for kids “from 3 to 12 years old”. On prescription from a doctor, Health Insurance will reimburse 100% for up to three assessments (dietary, psychological, physical activity) and 18 follow-up sessions, over a maximum period of two years.
This care must take place in one of the 260 referenced structures (homes or health centers), the list of which must be published on the ameli.fr website.