Obese 6-year-olds ‘likeliest to stay fat’

THE first five years of a child’s life are crucial when it comes to preventing obesity in adulthood, researchers say.

- By Storm Newton

They tracked thousands of children at two, six, 10, 14 and 18 years old and found body mass index at six was the best predictor of obesity in later life.

Every unit increase in BMI at this age more than doubled a child’s odds of being overweight or obese at 18, they said.