Study: Kids’ Weight Gain Comes Early

Children who weigh too much at age 9 actually gain most of the extra weight before age 5, a study finds. The British study included 233 children. Doctors measured their weight and height at birth, age 5 and age 9. Most kids with excess weight at age 9 also were too heavy at age 5. They also had higher cholesterol and blood pressure than children of normal weight. Researchers said efforts to prevent child obesity should focus on children under age 5. The study was in the journal Pediatrics.