Mums overfeeding already obese kids

Mothers are overfeeding their children, who are already fat, because they are unable to tell if they are too chubby, a new research has suggested.

A survey of nearly 300 mothers found that they struggled to judge the weight of their own toddlers.

According to the experts, this blind spot could lead to youngsters being encouraged to overeat, predisposing them to obesity in later life.

The study was carried out by dietician Rebecca Byrne who asked 276 mothers to describe their 12 to 16 month old children, as either underweight, normal weight or overweight, the Daily Mail reported.

The researchers then measured children's heights and weights.

Byrne said that mothers thought 27 of the children were too thin, but only one of these toddlers was actually underweight, with the rest being of normal size.

Additionally, while 32 percent of the toddlers in the study were actually overweight, only four percent (12 of the 276 toddlers) were perceived as too heavy by their mothers.

Figures showed that around 27 percent of British children are now overweight.

Rapid early weight gain before two years of age is associated with a two to threefold increase in the risk of obesity later in life.

Byrne said parents are not given the support that they need to understand normal child growth and how to pick up weight problems in their children.

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