Isn't she sweet? Just look at those cute little rolls of baby fat. How often have we heard those words? A chubby baby is a healthy baby – or so we have assumed. But what happens when baby fat becomes a health hazard? When chubby is no longer cute but a start of something more serious – a lifetime of obesity and the health risks that come with being overweight.

Almost one-third of children ages 6 to 11 are obese today. But they didn't magically turn heavy when they became school age. For most it started many years before, as toddlers and preschoolers. It's often the school-age children we hear about because they are tracked through the school system. But the problem starts way before kindergarten and it's growing.

Diet is often the first thing looked at anytime weight is an issue, and it is no less important for the younger ones. Children need to be taught good healthy eating habits early in life. It has to start at birth; later intervention often does not work. A study done by the University of Buffalo states that information and counseling on diet and exercise does very little to help toddlers lose weight. The reason this seems to fail is fairly simple: For a toddler to lose weight and be healthy so must the adults in his life – it's a family deal.

As parents we must be vigilant about introducing the best to our young children. Fruits, vegetables and whole grains, rather than sweetened cereals, fast food and soda pop. Breastfeeding exclusively is another major factor in fighting childhood obesity. Moms who breastfeed are one step ahead in helping their children to be healthy.

"Parents introduce solid foods too soon to babies and overdo the 'good' foods like milk and juice in older children," says Dana Bates, a registered dietitian for WIC (Women, Infants & Children) in Oklahoma City, Okla. "Wait until babies are 4 months or even older before introducing solid foods. Then start out the right way."

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