Puppy fat will dog a child into adulthood: study

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2006

PARIS (AFP) — Parents who believe that puppy fat (US: baby fat) on a child will disappear may be dooming their offspring to adult obesity, says a study published online by the British Medical Journal.

Researchers tracked 5,863 children in South London between the ages of 11-12 and 16-17.

Those who had excess weight at the start of the monitoring continued with it at the end.

"Children who are obese when they enter secondary school will very likely leave it obese," the authors say.

"The findings indicate that persistent obesity is established before age 11 and highlight the need to prevent obesity in the early years."

The biggest risk was posed for girls, especially black girls or girls from a lower socio-economic background. Up to 38 percent...