Does overweight in childhood have an impact on adult health?

The consequences of overweight in childhood, including persistence into adulthood and as a risk factor for adverse health consequences, are of substantial concern given the recent upward trend in prevalence. A recent report on an historic cohort-a British 1947 birth cohort-is largely consistent with previous estimates of persistence of overweight. Long-term health consequences of obesity were not demonstrable in this, study, likely owing to the small numbers of subjects who were overweight during post-World War II Britain. (C) 2003 International Life Sciences Institute.