Has your doctor told you that your child will outgrow her "baby fat"? While the chubby cheeks and thighs of infancy often slim down after a child starts walking, the longer that she carries excess weight, the more likely she is to be an obese adult. In fact, while an overweight 3 year old has only a 10-20 percent chance of becoming an obese adult, this figure jumps to 80-90 percent for an overweight 11 year old.

A recent British study reported in the professional journal BMJ, tracked almost 6,000 11 and 12 year old children until they completed secondary school. Very few of those who were overweight or obese at the start of the study had reduced weight by the end, suggesting that a high amount of fat at 11 years old is predictive of adult obesity.

This study highlights the importance of asking your healthcare provider to check your child's growth during well child visits and advise you if she is overweight. Early childhood is the best time to instill healthy lifestyle behaviors that will reduce body fat - and keep it off.