I once got a letter from the mother of a capable little girl who was totally put out by the fact that her child (she was overweight) had been recommended to eat more vegetables and fruit. “Do you really have to restrict the child’s diet right from the start?” she asked me in amazement. Well, what can I say? Yes, your trainer is right. Excess weight will make it more difficult or even impossible for a child to do rhythmic gymnastics.

But I think the issue here is not so much weight, as having a proper balanced diet. Parents definitely need to pay attention to what their children eat, and if they have any questions, take advice from a pediatrician or dietician. It’s only natural for children to want cakes, fizzy drinks, crisps and so on. But allowing them to eat all these things is no way of showing your love. Quite the opposite: I think it’s a sign of weakness and unwillingness to talk to the child and explain why such food is harmful and how it can affect the stomach and the body. The sooner we teach our children to eat wholesome tasty food, the easier it will be for us to tackle the problem of excess weight and possibly even some illnesses. Their diet can and should include some high-calorie products, however, and on no account must you starve your child. Another important thing is movement – your child has to keep active, and then the body itself will regulate everything properly.