A 31-year-old American forced his son, who he found too fat, to play sports until he killed him. Beyond this scandalous case of abuse, how can you judge the weight of your child? And when necessary, how can you help him lose weight? Advice from Arnaud Cocaul, nutritionist doctor.
In 2021, Christopher allegedly forced his six-year-old son Corey to run on a treadmill to the point of exhaustion, causing his death, because he thought he was “too fat”. A sordid news item which, however, questions how certain parents can manage their child's overweight.
A case of abuse for which the man risks life imprisonment
In CCTV footage, the man can be seen forcing the child to run, increasing the speed of the treadmill. The child falls head first several times, but the man picks him up each time and always increases his speed.
After two weeks of inhumane treatment, the little boy died and his death was linked to this particularly unsuitable physical training for a child of his age, more precisely to blunt injuries to the abdomen and lacerations found on the child's body. . The father faces life imprisonment.
How to identify an overweight problem?
Beyond this tragedy, the fundamental question that arises here is that of the parents' approach to their overweight child. “When parents suspect their child is overweight, the first reflex is not necessarily to go see a specialist in this field but to consult their attending physician, their usual pediatrician or the PMI to carry out this staturo-weight examination with calculation of BMI“, explained Dr. Carlier-Gonod, pediatrician. Mandatory medical and screening visits in schools (in the middle kindergarten section, during the sixth and twelfth year) can also note a problem with weight gain in the child.
If the nurse notices excess weight, he/she notes it in the health record and notifies the family. “These appointments are covered by Social Security and are useful for parents who may have missed a weight problem.“, points out the pediatrician. If excess weight is proven and treatment is planned, the child must be warned in advance.
Zoom on the “Mission: find your course!”
Since 2023, the “Mission: find your course” system has become widespread throughout Europe. It allows children aged 3 to 12 at risk of obesity, overweight or non-complex obesity, to benefit from early, multidisciplinary care on medical prescription – dietary, psychological, physical activity – 100% reimbursed by Health Insurance without advance of costs by the family or excess fees. It is up to the child's doctor to prescribe the treatment which will be implemented within health centers or multi-professional health homes referenced by health professionals and psychologists (this list is regularly updated according to the entry into the system of new structures).
Kind and consistent support at home
How to help your son or daughter lose a few pounds? For Dr Arnaud Cocaul, nutritionist, we must adopt a gentle approach. “In this kind of situation, I advocate kindness first of all.” explains the doctor. “You must remind your child of the fundamental basics, the importance of chewing well, eating slowly, mindfully and balancing your meals” the doctor first recommends.
The doctor also recommends being consistent in what you say. “IYou have to apply to yourself what you explain to your children: there is no point in praising them about the benefits of fruits and vegetables if you don't eat them yourself, you have to have a coherent message.”.
NO to diets, YES to WW!
No prohibitions but a reminder of the portions
Finally, he advises against cultivating prohibitions, but believes that limits must be set. “If the child wants to eat a pleasure meal from time to time, he should not be deprived of it. But this will be an opportunity to show him which portion of fries is appropriate for his age, we can make him read the labels so that he understands the composition of these products…” advises the specialist. “This also applies to all treatsdrinks or industrial cakes, which must remain occasional in a child's diet..
