Childhood obesity appears common and hard to prevent, but identifying when it is most likely to occur can help take the necessary precautions. With that in mind, experts from the University of Bristol found that kids are prone to become overweight and obese during mid-late childhood, i.e., from the age of 7 to 11 years. This threat of becoming overweight and obese seems to be particularly strong in British children.
While conducting the study, investigators kept a tab on the body weight and height of approximately 5,000 kids enrolled in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), from birth until the age of 15. The number of children who changed from a healthy weight to being overweight and obese appeared 19 percent higher between the ages 7 to 11 years. Also the threat of being overweight and obese was registered ten percent greater among children between ages 3 to 7 years or seven percent in 11 to 15 years.
It was concluded that most excess weight gain purportedly occurs by mid-late childhood. So, Professor John Reilly of the University of Strathclyde and colleagues mention that taking accurate precautions during mid-late childhood can help avoid childhood obesity. The study findings can supposedly offer an important insight into the stages of childhood and adolescence.
The study is published online in Preventive Medicine.