Eleven is the critical age that dictates if an obese child will be plagued with weight-related health problems during adulthood.

In a study conducted by scientists at University College London, a sampling of roughly 6,000 children were monitored in a span of five years. A quarter of the participants had a weight problem.

The research, published online by the British Medical Journal, suggests that by the age of 11 a tendency to be overweight or obese is already set in place.