Infants as young as six months could show signs of childhood obesity
Infants who gain weight at a rapid rate during their first few months are significantly more likely to go on to suffer from obesity in later life than those who develop at a slower rate, scientists have claimed.New research carried out by a team of experts at Harvard University found that babies who put on the most weight between one to six months are much more likely to be obese when they are between five and ten years old, highlighting the importance of an early diet from the very beginning.
Given that obesity increases the likelihood of a range of serious conditions, including type 2 diabetes study leader Dr Elsie Taveras from the Harvard Medical School explained that these latest findings suggest doctors and parents could be given an indicator of future health problems as early as six months into a child's life.
Commenting further on the findings, she added: "This goes against the common perception that early weight gain is normal and it's just due to baby fat that will eventually go away."
Meanwhile, in South Yorkshire, the director of the Rotherham Institute for Obesity has told the BBC that not enough obese children are currently being referred to the unit for the specialist treatment they need.
