Most countries throughout the world, excepting certain areas of Sub-Saharan Africa have witnessed a continued increase in the prevalence of obesity over the last two decades [1]. This carries major public health implications as there is little doubt that obese children are at increased risk of developing long-term morbidity and eventual mortality secondary to increasing adiposity. Despite this, there remain very few effective prevention or treatment strategies with which to halt this escalating epidemic. Understanding the factors that regulate adiposity in childhood, and the development of co-morbidities, would allow us to focus prevention and treatment strategies to those most at risk.
