Children who are overweight now may also struggle to conceive in the future

Our children being obese may hold more complications for the future than parents believe.

Being overweight can have a domino effect on a child's future. Childhood obesity can crucially hit at women's fertility in later years, scientists warn. US scientists fear kids' expanding waistlines are triggering the early onset of puberty, which in turn impacts negatively on female child-bearing. And previous studies have found links between obesity in early puberty and the risk of reproductive cancers and adult-onset diabetes. They have also found links between growing up overweight and conditions like depression, increased delinquency and metabolic syndromes. Professor Patrick Chappell of Oregon State University says the effect of obesity on metabolic syndromes can profoundly affect fertility. He explained: "Either extreme of the spectrum, anorexia or obesity, can be associated with reproduction problems." One theory is that our diets play havoc with our body clocks, causing changes in the balance of our hormones. Disrupted sleeping patterns and sleep-awake cycles can influence the secretion of hormones such as cortisol, testosterone and insulin. Early onset puberty has also been associated with higher rates of anxiety in girls.