The early years nutrition experts call for mandatory food standards in childcare and higher standards of nutrition education for childcare professionals.
The research published in the International Journal of Obesity showed that the likelihood of toddlers developing obesity is largely governed by their parents and that fat parents are more likely to nurture fat toddlers. In teenagers parents influence reduces and obesity prediction is driven by exposure to fizzy drinks and other foods high in empty calories.
Prof Terence Wilkin, of Exeter University, who led the study, said: "Childhood obesity is one of the greatest health issues of our time. If we are to develop strategies to intervene effectively, we must first understand the cause.
"This study indicates for the first time that childhood obesity has different causes, depending on the age of the child.
"My team and I at Grub4Life have long championed the link between the early years and long term health. We have also identified that childcare professionals are key in helping to change parent’s attitudes to their children’s diets. As the extended family becomes a thing of the past new mums don’t have a grandmother or aunt close by to go to for advice. Its early educators and childminders who offer the support network parents need. Sadly there is no guarantee that these professionals have the nutritional knowledge you’d expect to give parents accurate, practical advice and support.
“We’ve continually worked to improve standards of nutrition training for childcare professionals - conventional NVQ training for childcare professionals contains limited elements of nutrition and nurseries and childcare centres only have voluntary guidelines to help them ensure the food they serve is right for children under five (unlike primary and secondary schools where nutritional standards are mandatory).
But the announcement couldn’t come at a better time – days before the General Election we all have an opportunity to put forward our views and let our politicians know that we want the next government to acknowledge the opportunity that early years childcare provides to improve health, social outcomes and of course save the NHS billions of pounds in treating the long term effects of obesity. Your vote will count!”