A colleague who has been suffering from tendonitis since he started working on his feet, a neighbor who discovers pre-diabetes during a routine check-up: we often think about health when an alert signal appears. However, the latest developments in prevention in France are changing the game, with concrete measures that allow action well before the first symptoms.
Preventive check-up reimbursed: what pharmacists and physiotherapists are really changing
Since 2024, the Health Insurance has offered “My preventive check-up,” a free appointment lasting 30 to 45 minutes to assess one’s lifestyle habits. The program targets several age groups (18-25, 45-50, 60-65, 70-75 years) and covers diet, physical activity, sleep, addictions, screenings, and vaccinations.
As of June 30, 2026, more than 612,000 check-ups had already been completed. The notable fact: pharmacists have conducted more than half of the check-ups since autumn 2025. There is no longer a need to wait for an appointment with a primary care physician to initiate this process.
A decree published in 2026 further expands the program by allowing physiotherapists to conduct these check-ups. For those suffering from chronic pain or postural issues, this is a gateway to prevention that did not exist before. You can find this type of news by browsing all health articles from 123 Docteur, which closely follow these regulatory developments.
Specifically, if you are between 45 and 50 years old and have not seen a doctor in two years, stopping by the pharmacy to request this check-up takes less than an hour and costs nothing. It’s the kind of reflex that identifies a cardiovascular risk factor or a sleep disorder before they become established.
Cardiovascular screening from childhood: the 2026 law and its practical consequences
In July 2026, the National Assembly unanimously adopted a law aimed at equipping France with a national strategy to combat cardio-neurovascular diseases, the second leading cause of mortality after cancers. The text provides for early screening from childhood to identify hereditary risk factors (such as familial hypercholesterolemia).
For parents, this means that lipid profiles could be offered during routine pediatric consultations. We are not talking about heavy examinations, but rather a targeted blood test that would allow silent anomalies to be detected for decades.
This law marks a change in approach. Until now, cardiovascular prevention in France focused on adults over 40. Acting earlier on the dietary habits and physical activity of at-risk children significantly reduces long-term complications.
Diet and health: beyond shopping lists
Classic nutritional advice (eating fruits and vegetables, reducing salt) remains valid. The difficulty, as we all know, is maintaining it over time when juggling irregular schedules, tight budgets, and fatigue.
Adapting recipes to one’s real pace matters more than following a perfect diet. Here are a few concrete levers that work on the ground:
- Preparing two or three dishes on Sunday for the week (batch cooking) focusing on legumes and whole grains, two categories of food often underrepresented in the French diet
- Replacing processed snacks with alternatives that satisfy without causing a glycemic spike: nuts, cottage cheese, whole grain bread with a drizzle of olive oil
- Reading labels not to track every additive, but to compare the salt and added sugar content between two equivalent products at the supermarket
Feedback varies on this point, but several nutritionists observe that a dietary habit change maintained for three weeks is more likely to become permanent than a complete diet overhaul abandoned after ten days.
Weight and body composition: moving beyond the logic of the number on the scale
Weight alone does not say much about health status. The distribution of body fat, particularly around the abdomen, is a much more reliable indicator of cardiovascular risk. Measuring waist circumference with a tape measure provides information that the scale does not offer.
You can weigh the same after six months of regular physical activity while losing visceral fat and gaining muscle mass. This is a point to keep in mind to avoid discouragement.
Heat risk prevention: anticipating heatwaves before they arrive
Heatwave episodes recur every summer in France, and their effects on health are not limited to heat strokes. Chronic mild dehydration, worsening respiratory conditions, interaction between heat and certain medications (diuretics, antihypertensives): the risks are real, especially for patients on treatment.
Here are a few reflexes to implement before the first alerts:
- Check with your pharmacist if your usual medications require special precautions in case of high heat (cool storage, increased risk of dehydration)
- Install a thermometer in the main living area to monitor indoor temperature, not just outdoor
- Adjust your physical activity schedule: prefer mornings before 9 a.m. or evenings after 8 p.m. during heat episodes
These adjustments seem simple. In practice, many elderly people or outdoor workers do not apply them due to a lack of targeted information.
Health data and digital tracking: what works, what remains unclear
Tracking applications (sleep, diet, physical activity) are multiplying. Some provide useful data to objectify a problem: a sleep tracker revealing frequent nighttime awakenings can motivate a consultation.
The trap is to confuse self-measurement with diagnosis. A smartwatch that detects an abnormal heart rate does not replace an electrocardiogram. However, it can serve as a warning signal to trigger a medical appointment.
The national e-health strategy led by the Digital Health Agency aims to better regulate these tools and integrate them into the care pathway. For now, the most reasonable approach is to use these applications as trend indicators, not as verdicts.
Health prevention in France is entering a phase where systems exist (free check-ups, expanded screenings, digital tools). The real challenge is no longer access to information, but taking action: making the appointment, asking the pharmacist, adapting a concrete dietary habit rather than waiting for the next symptom.