Even if four or five-year-old children are overweight, most parents don't pay much attention to it. They think that "baby fat" doesn't matter, and children are growing. Recently, however, a new study in university of tasmania shows that this concept is wrong, and most obese children will have obesity problems when they grow up.

Researchers followed more than 2,700 children and measured their body mass index (BMI) irregularly until they reached adulthood. The results show that children who have "baby fat" before the age of 6 are more likely to be overweight in adulthood. The author of the research paper, Dr. Mary Jenny Bascott, a researcher at menzies Institute of Medicine in university of tasmania, believes that the weight status in childhood determines the weight status in adulthood, which not only refers to the weight, but also includes the speed of weight gain. Children should start to control their weight before puberty, because after puberty, the body will secrete a lot of sex hormones and growth hormones, which will resist insulin and increase the glucose content in the body.

Researchers suggest that if girls who are already obese strongly intervene in body mass index in early adolescence and boys in early adulthood, they can still avoid stubborn obesity in adulthood to some extent. The results of this study show that the early weight management of children under 6 years old needs attention. Children aged 2-3 can increase their intake of fruits and vegetables, watch less TV and drink less sugary drinks. Parents of obese children should consult pediatricians as soon as possible to make a reasonable diet and exercise plan for their children.