Nursery World - Experts call for more early intervention on obesity

As a growing body of research suggests child obesity starts in the
womb, health experts are calling for greater intervention early on.

Neena Modi, professor of neonatal medicine at Imperial College London, is arguing that rather than targeting anti-obesity campaigns at adults and young people - efforts that have so far failed - the Government should focus on pregnant women and babies.

Her comments follow the health secretary Jeremy Hunt's vow last month to make tackling childhood obesity a top priority, and to develop a national strategy to help address the problem.

According to Professor Modi, who took over as president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in April, the 'seeds for obesity and poor health are sown very early on'.

She said that obese mothers were more likely to have obese children, who will grow to be obese adults.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included