New study shows how obesity can be predicted among infants

Obesity risk can be predicted among infants as young as three-and-a-half years old by assessing the right criteria, according to a new study.

Researchers from the University of Montreal have published data from a study assessing almost 2,000 Canadian children to see how body mass index (BMI) readings changed over time.

It was found that children whose mothers were overweight or smoked during pregnancy were much more likely to have high-rising BMIs, leading to clinical obesity by middle childhood.

Scientists clarified that these represent risk factors rather than direct causes, while adding that further studies are needed to determine what other early-life factors can have an effect.

Laura Pryor, a PhD candidate at the university's department of social and preventive medicine, said: "I hope that my research will help in the development of strategies to combat this serious public health issue."

This comes in the same week that a World Cancer Research Fund study showed that rising obesity rates are leading to a heightened risk of oesophageal cancer in the UK.