Scientists Say a 40-Year-Old Childhood Obesity Warning May Be Completely Wrong

New research challenges the long-held “adiposity rebound” theory in childhood obesity.

The study, presented at the European Congress on Obesity and published in The Journal of Nutrition, suggests the early BMI rise may reflect normal growth.

That would mean the rebound is not necessarily a sign of fat gain or a reliable early warning for later obesity.

Researchers at the University of Eastern Finland, including Andrew Agbaje, say clinicians may need to rethink how they assess obesity risk in children.