Prevent obesity in the under-5s and the benefits can last for years. Solveig Cunningham of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, and colleagues looked at 7700 children and showed that those who maintained a healthy weight until the age of 5 were four times less likely to develop obesity as a teenager. Previous studies have suggested steps to help youngsters. Some can be taken before a child is born: improving lifestyle choices and diet in women - both before and during pregnancy - could decrease the resulting child's vulnerability to obesity. After birth, focus shifts to the baby's diet. For babies who aren't breastfed, reducing the protein content of infant formula so that it matches that of breast milk is proving effective. Regular sleep patterns and avoiding exposure to fast-food advertising on television can also help.
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