The New York Times published an article on research that suggests that lifelong obesity can start at infancy or even in the womb. By the time a child is in kindergarten, it may be too late to intervene.
The new evidence “raises the question whether our policies during the last 10 years have been enough,” Dr. Taveras said. “That’s not to say they’ve been wrong — obviously it’s important to improve access to healthy food in schools and increase opportunities for exercise. But it might not be enough.” Much of the evidence comes from an unusual long-term Harvard study led by Dr. Matthew Gillman that has been following more than 2,000 women and babies since early in pregnancy.
But do we risk stigmatizing someone under the age of 5 as overweight or obese if we try to intervene at such a young age? As a parent, I’d rather suffer the uncomfortable conversation with my pediatrician that we change my 2 year old’s eating habits now than address it during elementary school or later.
