Using data from the Millennium Cohort Study, which is tracking childrenborn in the UK between 2000 and 2002, researchers measured the heightand weight of 13,771 three-year-olds and found that 18 per cent wereoverweight and five per cent were obese.
The findings come in the same week that the British Medical Associationsaid it would debate a motion proposing that the Government considerobesity in under-12s as 'a form of neglect'.
Professor Carol Dezateux of the Institute of Child Health, who led theresearch, said the findings were of 'great public health concern' butprovided evidence about the origins of childhood obesity which wouldhelp the Government to fight it.
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