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by Isobel Apking (Author)
The childhood obesity numbers particularly worry us, because the effects of obesity accumulate over time.
A child who is obese is more likely to develop diabetes, heart disease, and other complications of obesity earlier in life than someone who develops obesity in adulthood.
What was also very interesting is that the parent's habits had a bigger effect than the child's habits when it came to preventing childhood obesity.
It's hard to know for sure what exactly explains these findings.
Certainly role-modeling, and family habits, are important.
People who smoke are more likely to be depressed, and drinking low to moderate amounts of alcohol daily is associated with a lower risk of anxiety and depression; as depression is linked with obesity, perhaps these habits help by lowering the risk of depression.
