The age at which scientists can tell if you'll be obese for life
The weight of a child aged six is the best predictor of whether they will be obese in adulthood, research has found.
Experts from the Netherlands said the first five years of a child's life are crucial when it comes to preventing obesity in the future.
They suggested the first years of life were a 'fantastic opportunity to intervene' and give youngsters a 'chance of a happy, healthy' future.
Researchers used data from a study known as Generation R to track the BMI of thousands of children in the Netherlands at age two, six, 10, 14 and 18.
They found every one unit increase in BMI at age six more than doubled a child's odds of being overweight or obese at 18.
They also suggested if a child with a higher BMI reached a healthy weight by the age of six, they were no longer at risk.
Presenting the findings at the European Congress on Obesity in Malaga, Jasmin de Groot, of Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, said: 'We need to understand how children grow and develop if we are to help future generations grow up healthier and give every child a chance at a happy, healthy life.
'Our research assists with this by showing that a child with overweight or obesity isn't destined to live with overweight or obesity as a young adult.
'The first five years of a child's life provide a fantastic opportunity to intervene and prevent them experiencing overweight and obesity in the years to come.'
Separate research presented at the congress showed that excess weight among teenagers in England has soared by 50 per cent over the past 15 years.
Medics said ultra-processed foods such as packaged snacks and fizzy drinks, and sedentary lifestyles driven by excessive screen time were to blame for the rise,
The study by the University of Bristol tracked those aged 12 to 17 and found the percentage who were overweight or obese increased from 22 per cent in 2008-2010 to 33 per cent in 2021-2023.
Dr Dinesh Giri, the lead researcher and a consultant paediatric endocrinologist at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, said: 'Over the past 15 years, obesity in adolescents has risen significantly due to a combination of increased consumption of ultra-processed foods, sedentary lifestyles driven by excessive screen time, inadequate sleep and rising mental health challenges.
'Additionally, reduced opportunities for physical activity and socioeconomic disparities have further contributed to an environment that promotes unhealthy lifestyles.'
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