A  recent study using data from the Millennium Cohort Study, which looked at the health of children aged between nine months and three years old, who had been born in the UK between 2000 and 2001, showed that those looked after by grandparents part-time had a 15% higher risk of being overweight for their age compared with those solely looked after by their parents.Those who were cared for by their grandparents full-time had a 34% increased risk of being overweight. There was also an increased risk of being overweight associated with other informal care provided by relatives or friends but only if that was full-time.

The study found little to no effect on weight when children were cared for by child minders or nurseries. Further analysis of data taking into account the child’s socio-economic background, found the increased risk was only apparent in children from the most advantaged groups – whose mothers had a managerial or professional job, had a degree, or lived with their partner.

However, with nearly a quarter of preschool children in the UK  overweight or obese, the figures give cause for concern. There will have to be some formal training, for friends and relatives, on nutrition and exercise for pre-schoolers to avoid a much larger problem in the future.