A new study in the medical journal " Pediatrics " concludes that chubby toddlers and pre-schoolers are more likely to be overweight, or obese, adolescents.
Researchers followed more than 1 thousand children for 10 years.
They found those who were overweight at least once between the age of two and four-and-a-half are five times more likely to be oveweight at age twelve.
Kids who are overweight at age seven and eleven are also more likely to remain so.
The researchers say children need to maintain a healthy weight starting early in childhood, because obese teens are likely to become overweight adults.
