Fit from the Start

How to Prevent Childhood Obesity in Infancy

Nearly 2 out of 3 children who are obese by kindergarten will remain obese as teens, and most of these teens will become obese adults.

What you do now can spare your baby a lifetime of struggle with obesity.

This easy-to-read book gives you the critical information you need to prevent obesity in infancy, including:

• How to avoid overfeeding (with breast and bottle)
• How to spot excess weight gain, and what to do about it
• Why sleep matters, and how to establish healthy sleep patterns
• How and when to introduce solid foods
• How to avoid an unhealthy appetite for sugary drinks
• How to help your baby get exercise before beginning to crawl or walk

Written by a pediatrician (Eden), an obesity scientist (Moore), and a nutritionist (Forman), this book is based on the latest scientific research in preventing childhood obesity in infancy.

Each chapter explains a single concept and summarizes it with easy-to-remember guidelines and expert advice. Author Dr. Eden also shares questions and answers encountered during his 40+ years of pediatric practice.

Bonus material includes:

• Delicious and healthy recipes
• Menu plans to help moms maintain or safely lose weight
• Links to engaging exercise videos of infant games and songs

This book is published in memory of C. Everett Koop, MD, ScD, the 13th U.S. Surgeon General and founder of Shape Up America!®, who pioneered the idea that obesity is a serious and preventable public health concern.

Reviews and Endorsements

“Fit from the Start is an excellent guide for new parents in helping to prevent childhood obesity.… We, as parents, physicians, teachers, and community all want our children to grow up healthy with healthy eating habits, education, motivation and hope. Thanks to the authors, this easy-to-read, matter-of-fact book will make Dr. Koop’s vision for a healthy America come into being.” -- M. Joycelyn Elders, MD, pediatrician and 15th U.S. Surgeon General

“This excellent book provides important information on how to prevent excessive weight gain in babies. It has a terrific chapter on promoting physical activity in infants, along with engaging videos on the Shape Up America! website of games and activities parents and babies can play together.” -- Steven N. Blair, PED, Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, Columbia SC

“While it's never too late to improve health, the earlier the start, the better.… Apply the eminent good sense in this book, and give your baby the advantage of the earliest possible start toward a long and healthy life.” -- David L. Katz, MD, MPH, Director, Yale Prevention Research Center; editor-in-chief of Childhood Obesity; and author of Disease Proof

About the Authors

Alvin N. Eden, MD, has over 40 years of experience as a practicing pediatrician and is a clinical professor of pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. He has authored six childcare books, including Growing Up Thin, a book on treating overweight and obese children.

Barbara J. Moore, PhD, is the president and CEO of Shape Up America!®, a national nonprofit organization founded by the 13th U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. C. Everett Koop, to raise awareness of obesity as a health issue and provide responsible information on weight management. She has more than 35 years of experience as an obesity research scientist and educator.

Adrienne Forman, MS, RDN, is a registered dietitian nutritionist with 25 years of experience developing weight-control programs for children and adults. She is the director of nutrition communications for Shape Up America!® and a child weight-management specialist for MEND, the world’s largest community-based child weight-management program.