Obesity scorecard can identify high-risk cases at birth, say scientists

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Newborn babies who are likely to grow up obese could be identified at birth using a simple scorecard, and their families given help and advice to prevent it happening, scientists say.

Once a child gets to school, it is hard to help them lose weight, according to experts. The crucial years of life are the first two.

Researchers at Imperial College London, searching for a way of predicting which children were at greatest risk, looked first at genes, but concluded that they were not a reliable indicator at present.

Instead, they have put together a checklist, available online, which GPs and health or social workers can use to work out where they should concentrate help. It uses the birth weight of the child, the body mass index of the parents, the number of people in the household, the mother's professional status and whether she smoked during pregnancy.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/nov/28/obesity-scorecard-high-risk-cases-birth
 
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