Paris, France – A recent statement by French health expert Jimmy Mohamed, suggesting a child dressed lightly in cold weather isn’t necessarily at risk of illness, has sparked widespread debate and garnered over a million views, according to Le Parisien. Mohamed, host of the ”Health Magazine” and author of multiple health books, stands by his comments, clarifying they are rooted in scientific understanding of how illness spreads.
The core of Mohamed’s argument, as he explained to Le Parisien on Thursday, isn’t a dismissal of cold-weather precautions, but a nuanced approach. He advocates for allowing children to go out with less clothing, provided they adhere to preventative health measures: frequent handwashing, sneezing into the elbow, staying home when sick, ventilating indoor spaces, adequate sleep, and a balanced diet.
“Okay to go out without covering up a lot, but on condition that you make a deal,” Mohamed stated. He emphasizes that cold temperatures themselves don’t cause illness; rather, viruses and bacteria are the culprits, and they circulate more readily during winter months.
While cold weather doesn’t directly cause sickness, it can slightly weaken immune defenses. A February 2023 study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology found that lower temperatures can reduce the production of extracellular vesicles,which help prevent pathogens from reaching the mucous membranes.
Mohamed acknowledges limitations, especially for younger children. “Young people, especially the youngest, have a poor perception of the cold and they regulate their temperature less well, ultimately leading to a risk of hypothermia,” he explained. He also notes that cold exposure increases caloric expenditure, necessitating increased food intake.
Despite his scientific reasoning, Mohamed admits to practicing caution with his own children. “Every morning, Jimmy Mohamed asks his children (young, pre-teen and teenager) to… cover up well,” Le Parisien reports. “When I’m at home, I’m a doctor but also a dad, and I’m like all the others,” he concluded.
