Dec

18

Topic: Childhood Obesity News - Body size set by age five - ABC Online

Filed Under Childhood Obesity News | Leave a Comment

And it uncovered that the path towards childhood obesity is set before the age of 5. But in terms of risk factors for excess weight gain, we know that children and I am talking about the first few years and primary school, watching television, soft drink, not being breastfed or not being breastfed for a long period of time, having parents who themselves struggle with their weight which probably reflects partly genetic predisposition as well as a shared environment, these are all factors which predispose to excess weight gain during childhood and in adolescence. There is a small but significant impact of breastfeeding on putting someone at decreased risk of excess weight gain but there is nothing to say that formula, appropriate formula, is itself a major problem. But we also need to be intervening with our public transport system, with our, the issue about food marketing to children, about food prices and food availability. This includes the schoolyard and the school but also includes our workplaces, our broader environment and it includes earlier childhood. And I do think we need to probably ramp up our focus on children in those early years, parents in their vital role of parenting. Read Childhood Obesity

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