Children’s diets in 2025: between taste and healthWorld Health Organisation
In 2025, French children’s diets will be torn between the pursuit of pleasure and public health imperatives. While manufacturers are rolling out more and more products designed to appeal to young consumers, health authorities are sounding the alarm about rising childhood obesity.
Pleasure at the heart of food choices
Today’s children are exposed to a multitude of food products designed to appeal to their taste buds and their eyes. From colourful snacks and sugary drinks to fun-shaped cereals, the food industry is competing to capture the attention of young consumers.
Targeted marketing campaigns, particularly on social media and streaming platforms, are reinforcing this trend. Cartoon characters, interactive games and attractive packaging are all tools used to influence children’s food choices.
This strategy is proving successful: products high in sugar, salt and saturated fat remain among children’s favourites, despite parents’ efforts to introduce healthier alternatives.
Childhood obesity on the rise
This appetite for ultra-processed foods is not without consequences. In France, the prevalence of childhood obesity continues to rise. According to data from Santé publique France, approximately 17% of children aged 6 to 17 are overweight, including 4% who are obese.
Social disparities exacerbate the phenomenon: children from disadvantaged backgrounds are four times more likely to be obese than those from affluent backgrounds.
In response to this situation, health authorities recommend increased monitoring of body mass index (BMI) from an early age and encourage balanced eating habits.
Towards a more balanced diet
Aware of the issues at stake, some manufacturers and distributors are taking steps to improve the food available to children. Reducing sugar, salt and fat content, reformulating recipes and promoting the Nutri-Score are all measures aimed at offering healthier products.
At the same time, educational programmes are being set up to raise children’s awareness of balanced eating. Cooking workshops, educational games and information campaigns aim to instil the basics of healthy nutrition from an early age.
The goal is clear: to reconcile the pleasure of eating with public health imperatives in order to prevent childhood obesity and its long-term consequences.
In conclusion, children’s diets in 2025 reflect a tension between attractive but often unhealthy products and the need to adopt balanced eating habits. It is essential that all stakeholders – parents, manufacturers, educators and public authorities – work together to guide younger generations towards diets that are both enjoyable and beneficial to their health.
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