'Two phases' of childhood obesity suggested

There may be two distinct child obesity epidemics - one among infants and one among adolescents - research suggests.

Researchers came to this conclusion after comparing obesity data in the 1980s with that of more than 300 present-day children.

They found signs that obesity was linked to the influence of parents for young children, the International Journal of Obesity reported.

Meanwhile, for teenagers more general peer-group factors seemed to be key.

Adam Brimelow reports.