New tool can identify children who are likely to become obese in adulthood

Academics used detail on genetic variations from more than five million people to create a tool called a polygenic risk score, which analyses people's genetics to work out their risk of developing obesity. File picture

A tool which can measure a child's risk of becoming obese in later life has been created by scientists.

It is hoped the new resource will one day mean those at highest risk will get targeted support to prevent them from becoming obese in the first place.