Childhood obesity – when should we start worrying?
Childhood obesity is a big issue these days and this study by Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters tells us age 2 might actually be the “tipping point” wherein doctors and parents should worry about weight control. Scaringly early, don’t you think?
The study looked at the health data of 111 children from 1 suburban pediatric practice. The researchers observed that children who are currently obese already started gaining weight as babies. By the time they reached 2 years old, 90% of these children were considered overweight. This emphasizes the need for vigilance on the part of the parents as well as the pediatricians. Current estimates of children obesity incidence in the US is at16%.
In an earlier post, MrsH reviews a study wherein parents are often wrong is estimating a child’s healthy weight. Are we perhaps as parents really blind when it comes to our children’s weights? Is what we parents consider “baby fat” actually the start of a lifetime problem for our children? That our “chubby” two-year old may actually be obese? If so, then it’s time we open our eyes.
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