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Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Community and Wellbeing spokeswoman at the LGA, responds to research by University College London that shows toddlers' eating habits may harm long-term health.

"Obesity can begin at birth, with increasing evidence that what happens during the first 1,000 days of a child's life can have a big impact on how healthy and happy they are as they grow up and into adulthood.

"Councils want to work with government in its forthcoming childhood obesity strategy on developing a 1,000 days plan which places emphasis on encouraging healthy eating habits from an early age.

"Intervention at a young age is vital if we are to avoid the risk of children having major health problems later on in life, such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes."

Further information is available at:

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/0416/060416_toddlers_diets