Experienced Psychologist and Independant Researcher and , I specialize in the sense of taste and eating behaviour in children, teenagers and adults.

I was awarded my PhD in Cognitive Sciences from the University Pierre et Marie Curie in 1998.

I conducted research on the methods of assessing food preferences in children. I subsequently worked as a trainer and consultant focusing on sensory development and food choices, especially in children. I worked for different companies or institutions in France and abroad for ten years.

After getting my University Diploma in The Obesity of Children and Adolescents (Paris 6) and being trained in 2010 by the Groupe de Réflexion sur l’Obésité et le Surpoids (Thinking Group on Obesity and Overweight) in adults, I opened my private practice in Paris, where I worked until July 2021. In 2014, I treated patients from the Centre de Consultation Nutrition et Psychothérapies in Geneva. In 2015, I got my University Diploma on Motivational and Behavioural Cognitive Therapy applied to addictions (Paris 7). From 2012, I ran Therapeutic Patient Education workshops in the Pôle Santé Paris 13. I was trained to become an instructor in mindfulness by Zindel Segal and Lucio Bizzini in 2017.

Skills Areas

• Tasting
• Eating behaviour in children, adolescents and adults
• Weight gain
• Eating disorders
• Psychological disorders (Anxiety, low self esteem, depression…)
• Cognitive restriction (see tab on being over excess weight and obesity)
• Eating sensations (hunger, cravings, satiety)
• Emotions, pleasures of eating
• The body and physical activity
• Taste development during life
• Food preferences
• Therapeutic Patient Education
• Mindfulness

RADIO

France Inter Radio: "La tête au carré" presented by Mathieu Vidard November 3rd 2009 

"Comment goûtons-nous?"  (How do we taste?)

Publications

• Léon F. (2009). Comment goûtons-nous ?  Editions Le Pommier, n° 117, Paris, 64 p., (collection: les petites pommes du savoir)
• Léon F. (2008). Le goût et l'attirance pour le sucré chez l'enfant et l'adolescent. Archives de Pédiatrie, 15, Hors-série (2), 2-7
• Léon F. (2008). Attirance pour le sucré chez l'enfant et l'adolescent", Nutrition infos, 3, 42-44
• Léon F. (2007). Taste and attraction to sweetness in children and adolescents. Sciences des Aliments, 27(4-5), 285-295
• Léon F. (2006). Enjoyment of children's eating. Children of Europe. Vol. 10, 16-17
• Köster E.P., Couronne T., Léon F., Lévy C., Marcelino A.S. (2002). Repeatability in hedonic sensory measurement: a conceptual exploration. Food Quality & Preference, 14(2), 165-176
• Léon F., Ivent S. (2001). Adaptation des méthodes hédoniques classiques aux enfants. In : Traité d'évaluation sensorielle. Urdapilleta I. et al. (Eds). Dunod, Paris, 169-180
• Léon F., T. Couronne, M.C. Marcuz, and E.P. Köster. (1999). Measuring food liking in children: a comparison of non-verbal methods. Food Quality & Preference, 10, 93-100
• Léon F. (1998). Élaboration et comparaison de méthodes d'évaluation des préférences alimentaires adaptées aux enfants de quatre à dix ans. Thèse de Doctorat, Université Paris 6, France
  
• Chiron C., Pinto F., Masure M.C., Duvelleroy-Hommet, Léon F., Billard C. (1999). Hemispheric specialization using SPECT and stimulation tasks in children with dysphasia and dystrophia. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 41, 512-520
• Chiron C., Leboyer M., Léon F., Jambaqué, I., Nuttin C., Syrota A. (1995). SPECT of the brain in childhood autism: evidence for a lack of normal hemispheric asymmetry. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 37, 849-860
• Nabbout R., Chiron C., Pinto F., Léon F., Jambaqué I. (1995). Etude du développement de l'asymétrie du débit sanguin cérébral par SPECT chez l'enfant normal. Archives de Pédiatrie, vol 2, Issue 9, Sept., 912