But it's also important to remember that even from infancy, a child's eating habits can go on to have a dramatic effect on the rest of their lives.
At least that is to be inferred from new Canadian research suggesting that toddlers who watch too much television and lead a generally sedentary lifestyle will grow up to have larger waistlines.
So with this in mind, why not make sure to do plenty of physical activities with your young children, whether it's playing on the park or in the garden, while also setting a good example for them - and yourself - by eating healthy meals together.
This way, you'll not only be able to knock off the pounds yourself, but also ensure that your children grow up to enjoy healthy eating and active lifestyles that will ensure they are healthy as possible.
The latest study, from a team at the University of Montreal and published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, indicated that the more hours young children spend inactive in front of a television, the less muscular fitness and larger the waistline they will have as a teenager.
In actual fact, each hour per week of television watched at 29 months corresponded to a measurable decline in muscle strength and a noticeable increase in waist measurements at the age of ten.
For those watching 18 hours of TV or more a week between the ages of 29 and 53 months, their waists were typically 0.76 cm larger.
Dr Caroline Fitzpatrick, who was involved in the research, said: "TV is a modifiable lifestyle factor and people need to be aware that toddler viewing habits may contribute to subsequent physical health.
"Further research will help to determine whether amount of TV exposure is linked to any additional child health indicators, as well as cardiovascular health."
