Tubby Toddlers Likely To Be Obese Teenagers

Children who are overweight as toddlers are more likely to be obese or overweight as teenagers according to new research from the USA. For the study, researchers working for the US National Institute Of Health and several academic institutions followed the development of more than 1,000 children from across the United States from the ages of two to 12. By measuring both the height and weight of the children at various ages, the researchers were able to monitor the bodymass index, or BMI, of each child over time.The study showed that children who were assessed as being overweight at least once from ages 2 to 4½

were five times more likely to be overweight at the age of 12 when compared to children who were not overweight between the ages of 2 and 4½. The widely held belief that a chubby toddler is a healthy toddler may not only be a myth, but it may have health consequences that last a lifetime. A study by Cancer Research earlier this year found that a quarter of 11 year olds are overweight or obese in the UK and few of those will have a healthy weight by the time they reach 16. And the solution? Not surprisingly the National Institute Of Health recommends that toddlers eat a healthy diet and get plenty of exercise.