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UK research shows that fat babies and those who grow faster than average, tend to become fat children, fat adolescents and fat adults. Childhood obesity is barely out of the news because fat children risk turning into fat adults and start silting up their arteries from frighteningly early ages. But how early does the story start? It's an important question if governments want to target any spending at the most effective age group. A study from the UK suggests that a good place to start is the first year or two of life. Researchers reviewed 24 studies that looked at babies' growth in the first two years and then followed them up when they were older - up to the age of 35 The results showed that fat babies or infants and those who grew faster than average tended to become fat children, fat adolescents and fat adults. It was hard to pin down the size of the risk because the studies were of variable quality but they mostly gave the same message. The big question is why this infant growth occurs and whether anything can be done about it that will make a difference later?
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