A recent study (M Geserick et al. NEJM 2018; 379: 1303-12) performed a prospective and retrospective analysis of a population-based sample of 51,505 German children to examine BMI in early childhood and risk of sustained obesity.

Key findings:

• Most normal weight adolescents had a normal weight throughout childhood
• Half (53%) of the obese adolescents had been overweight or obese from 5 years of age onward
• Almost 90% of children who were obese at 3 years of age were overweight or obese in adolescence
• Among obese adolescents, the most rapid weight gain had occurred between 2 and 6 years of age

My take: We are losing the childhood obesity battle at very young ages.

Abstract and Link to 1:32 Quick Summary: Acceleration of BMI in Early Childhood