Any baby born in the United States today has a one in 10 chance of being obese by age 4. That means 10 percent of all 4-year-olds in this country are obese. And one study in particular concludes a woman's pre-pregnancy weight is the largest risk factor of childhood obesity.

Nothing comes as close to predicting childhood obesity as a mother's weight in the first trimester of pregnancy, says Dr. Robert C. Whitaker, M.P.H., in his July 2004 Pediatrics study, "Predicting Preschooler Obesity at Birth: The Role of Maternal Obesity in Early Pregnancy." Women wanting to start a family ideally should get into shape – both nutritionally and physically – now, before conceiving their babies.

"There's not going to be a better time," says Dr. Whitaker, a Philadelphia, Pa., resident and senior fellow at Mathematica Policy Research Inc. of Princeton, N.J. At the time of the study's publication, he was affiliated with Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

Yet being obese in pregnancy does not necessarily mean either the mother or her child is doomed to a lifetime of battling bulge. But this is the best window of time to do something about it. Experts recommend families work together to eat well, get active and stay that way.

Content on this site is not a substitute for professional medical or healthcare advice, diagnosis or treatment, and may not be used for such purposes. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical question or condition. Reliance on information presented on this site is at your own risk. This site contains the opinions and views of other users. Given the interactive nature of this site, we cannot endorse, guarantee, or be responsible for the accuracy, efficacy, or veracity of any content generated by our users.