UAE, June 17 -- In times when childhood obesity has risen tenfold and triggers co-morbidities in adulthood, it is time we address it and act, caution pediatricians.

At first, it looked harmless. Some extra oodles of puppy fat. A child who preferred screens to playgrounds. A growing fondness for fries, nuggets and sugary drinks. Many parents brushed it aside as "baby fat" that would disappear with age.

But pediatricians across the UAE are now seeing a worrying shift. Children are developing obesity-linked health complications at increasingly younger ages. Conditions once associated with adults, including Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, fatty liver disease and hormonal imbalances, are quietly finding their way into pediatric clinics.

"Chi...