Dr. John Sharry:

Early intervention is definitely the way to go. That is the focus of the Parents Plus early years programme. There are different motivational points for parents to reflect and to make positive changes. One is when the baby is born and the other is at the preschool stage when the baby may start preschool. That would be targeted by the Parents Plus early years programme. That is when they are open to new things and new routines being established. Addressing this problem is all about prevention. One has to get in early. Once poor eating habits and obesity are established, it is very hard to stop that trajectory, but if one can educate, support and empower parents with the behavioural strategies that they need to bring in better eating in their homes, increase the level of activity of their children and protect them from the obesogenic environment that they are in, they are motivated by that. Early intervention is the most promising way to approach it.