Eating quickly promotes obesity in children
Obesity in children is a recurring phenomenon that is becoming increasingly widespread. Already in 2015, more than 100 million obese children were identified worldwide (1). These numbers keep growing.
Major and recognized factors can explain this rise, such as the poor quality of meals or the lack of sport (2). Nevertheless, some causes of obesity are less known and yet are of paramount importance.
You didn’t think that eating quickly would have an impact on the health of your children? You will be surprised !
Major and recognized factors can explain this rise, such as the poor quality of meals or the lack of sport (2). Nevertheless, some causes of obesity are less known and yet are of paramount importance.
You didn’t think that eating quickly would have an impact on the health of your children? You will be surprised !
The speed of food consumption greatly influences weight gain
No, it’s not a joke, eating quickly increases a child’s chances of developing obesity. Indeed, this is confirmed by a study conducted by Chinese scientists recently published in Nature reviews (3) .
This is a national follow-up carried out in China on more than fifty thousand children aged between 7 and 17 years. The two sexes were divided equally. The children were divided according to their speed of feeding into fast eaters (< 10 minutes) and medium and slow eaters (> 40 minutes).
This is a national follow-up carried out in China on more than fifty thousand children aged between 7 and 17 years. The two sexes were divided equally. The children were divided according to their speed of feeding into fast eaters (< 10 minutes) and medium and slow eaters (> 40 minutes).
Overall, the prevalence of obesity was significantly higher among fast eaters (16%) compared to average eaters (10%) and slow eaters (7%). This difference is even greater for abdominal obesity, with a variation of more than 15% between fast eaters and slow eaters. The ratio of waist circumference to body length is twice as large in fast eaters as in others.
Eating habits also appear to be related to feeding rate. Thus, fast eaters tend to have a higher consumption of meat, sweets and vegetables. However, they also have a clear deficiency in dairy products. This could seriously affect the growth of children.
Eating quickly leads to weight gain
Several publications have already pointed out the importance of the speed of meals for the health of children (4) (5) (6) . But this is the first time that a study has shown that this underestimated and largely neglected parameter is directly linked to obesity.
From a pathophysiological point of view, these data are completely consistent since eating quickly increases the quantity of calories ingested. Additionally, it impairs the reflex nerve pathways responsible for satiety . It also adversely affects the hormones of the digestive system.
From a pathophysiological point of view, these data are completely consistent since eating quickly increases the quantity of calories ingested. Additionally, it impairs the reflex nerve pathways responsible for satiety . It also adversely affects the hormones of the digestive system.
Conversely, eating slowly reinforces the thermic effect of food , stimulates the secretion of useful hormones and decreases the number of non-esterified fatty acids .
It will therefore be necessary to remember that by eating quickly, your children risk developing obesity. It is not just any but abdominal obesity. It is also called android obesity. It poisons the normal development of the child and can be responsible for serious lesions on the abdominal viscera.
It will therefore be necessary to remember that by eating quickly, your children risk developing obesity. It is not just any but abdominal obesity. It is also called android obesity. It poisons the normal development of the child and can be responsible for serious lesions on the abdominal viscera.
Prevent obesity in children
The speed of meal consumption is an easily modifiable factor. In addition, the benefits are substantial for the prevention of obesity in children (7) (8) .
It is highly recommended to teach children to eat slowly , ie to spend at least 40 minutes per meal . For this, simple measures are sufficient.
It is highly recommended to teach children to eat slowly , ie to spend at least 40 minutes per meal . For this, simple measures are sufficient.
- First you have to lead by example and eat slowly yourself.
- It is also necessary to take care to take meals with the family and banish fast foods.
- It is advisable to force the child to stay at the table for at least 40 minutes. In this way, he will get used to staying at the table and will eat more slowly without realizing it.
- Bring the dishes one by one to the table. We wait until everyone has finished before bringing the next dish. Thus, the meal lasts longer.
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.