Weight measures

Everyone wants to teach families how to avoid obesity ... but who picks out which children need help? Jackie Kemp reports

Get moving

Leeds' childhood obesity project is trying some unusual steps to improve child health, finds Heather Welford

Breastfed children are brainier, study suggests

Study raises question of whether breast milk itself or associated maternal care responsible for boosting intelligence

Researchers link growth spurt in early childhood to obesity

Scientists find link between rapid growth as a baby and the long-term rise in a person's metabolism

Weight limit protects beach donkeys from overweight children

Guidelines introduced to protect traditional seaside donkeys from buckling under weight of obese youngsters

Cold comfort

The medicine cabinet offers reassurance when your child is poorly, but how safe are the drugs inside - and do we rely on them too much? By Lucy Atkins

Obesity rates start badly and get worse at primary school

London has worst problem in England and Wales

Schools make children more obese, leading doctor says

Schools are making children more overweight, says leading GP, who blames lack of exercise and break times spent sitting by computers

Persecuting chubby kids

Brendan O'Neill: The obesity scare is zapping the fun out of childhood and giving rise to the state-sponsored persecution of fat children