Kuala Lampur, March 3 -- Every morning, a young child in Kuala Lumpur sits at the dining table with a cup of sweetened chocolate drink and a plate of nuggets before heading to preschool. His school bag waits by the door. A tablet glows softly on the table. It is an ordinary weekday morning, the kind many families recognise.

There is love in that kitchen. There is care. There is no intention to harm.

And yet, across Malaysia, more children are gaining weight at younger ages. Many parents look at their child and quietly wonder, "Are we doing something wrong?"

For a long time, the answer seemed simple. Eat less. Move more. Be disciplined. Weight gain was often described as a matter of choice or willpower.

But as research deepens, a gentl...