Report: Fight fat even in toddlers, preschoolers

WASHINGTON (AP) — Children don’t usually outgrow their baby fat – and a new report warns that it’s time for steps to help prevent babies, toddlers and preschoolers from getting too pudgy too soon.  Among the recommendations are for better guidelines on what and how much toddlers should eat, sort of a food pyramid for the under-2 set – before they ever get hooked on junk food. Also, the report urges at least 15 minutes of physical activity for every hour preschoolers spend in child care.
Thursday’s report from the Institute of Medicine warns that one in five youngsters already is overweight or obese by kindergarten. So day cares and preschools should play a role in instilling healthful habits earlier, before tots get on that path.