Likelihood of obesity in the children can be determined immediately at birth. One can do this by using an online calculator. This calculator methodology was developed on the basis of the study, which evaluated the significance of various genetic, socio-demographic and clinical factors in the development of obesity in children and adolescents.

In total, the researchers analyzed data on 4,032 children from Finland, 1503 children from Italy and 1032 in the U.S.. With this calculator, you can select newborns at risk. Childhood obesity is a very serious problem because it can lead to many troubles in the future, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes type II. According to an article published in PLoS ONE, researchers from ICL (Imperial College London), quite a few questions to know the weight of the mother and child at birth to predict his risk of obesity.

Previously it was thought that heredity plays most important role creating any problems with being overweight. However, according to data in the new study, only one out of 10 cases of obesity is associated with genetic factors - genetic mutation that changes the appetite.

The number of obese children is increasing every year. According to WHO, in 2010 there were an estimated more than 42 million children are overweight. In England, 17% of boys and 15% of girls are obese. The same problem is familiar to the population of Europe and USA.

There are few parameters to be entered into calculator: the mass of the child at birth, body mass index of parents, number of family members, education / profession of mother, whether the mother smoked during pregnancy.

Factors that predispose a child to obesity, have been known for a long time, but now scientists have taken into account the importance of each factor and derived a formula by which you can easily calculate the risk of obesity child.

Professor Philippe Froguel, from Imperial College London said: "The data entered into the formula - is easy to get for the parents do not require additional studies and costs, and at the same time it can help to identify the 80% of children who in the future will develop obesity. Prevention is the best strategy in the fight against obesity in children, how to get rid of an existing weight loss more difficult, than to prevent its development."

Obesity in children is mainly caused by unhealthy diets and low levels of physical activity. With a simple screening of children with a new formula, you can choose a group exposed to weight gain, and to conduct effective prevention since the first months of life. This primarily means advocacy and parents: good infant feeding habits of good nutrition and regular physical activity.