The food that a child is exposed to plays an integral role in their current and future health. The early years of life are a period of rapid growth, and optimal development of both body and brain relies heavily on nutrients of an appropriate quantity and balance. Carrying excess weight increases a child’s risk of health issues that often extend into adulthood.

While there is awareness that overconsumption of food – particularly high calorie, ultra-processed products – may lead to excess weight in children, it is less recognised that other factors such as in utero nutrition and certain parent/caregiver feeding practices may also promote childhood obesity. Yet efforts to reduce childhood obesity typically focus on their dietary and exercise habits, and exclude multiple other factors that play a role.

This evidence brief focuses on how early life nutrition, including prenatal exposures, caregiver feeding practices and childhood eating behaviours, contributes to overweight and obesity risk in children.

Focusing on the early stages of life is especially important for informing effective preventive approaches.