Many experts believe a child's weight at birth is tied to the risk of obesity in adulthood. But the mother's weight and the child's rate of growth in the first 7 years of life may be more important clues to the risk of adult obesity.
The study found that children who were closest to their adult height by the age of 7 years were more likely than their smaller peers to be obese at age 33. Boys who grew rapidly in childhood, particularly those who were smaller at birth, were especially likely to become obese as adults.
Their study also found that a child's birth weight was only weakly associated with the risk of adult obesity after taking into account the mother's weight. Heavier mothers, for instance, tend to have larger babies who grow up to be heavier adults. A father's weight had no affect on his child's later risk of obesity.
British Medical Journal December 8, 2001;323:1320-1321, 1331-1335
More evidence of the crucial need to implement effective dietary interventions to normalize weight in childhood rather than have to address these issues when they are far more difficult later in life.
For moms to follow the eating plan would be major step in the right direction. However, it is vital that the children also follow it soon after weaning from the breast.
This would include restricting milk and juices and replacing all fluid with water. Many mothers are concerned about calcium, but this is a very poor reason to continue to give cow's milk, which is fraught with problems.
The vitamin D in milk is actually far more important for most children than the calcium. But a good source of cod liver oil is a far better choice to obtain vitamin D if one does not have access to steady sunshine on their skin in the winter.
In addition to vitamin D, cod liver oil has the beneficial fats EPA and DHA which are enormously beneficial for developing brains.
Once a child has a good set of teeth they should be able to consume most adult foods if they are sufficiently cut up.
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Parents Tend to Overlook Their Child's Obesity
Each Daily Soda Pop Increases Obesity Risk 60%