Child overweight and obesity is a serious increasing health problem in the UK. Overweight/obesity often continues in adulthood and increases the risk for developing many chronic disease. Having a mother that is overweight or obese means it is more likely that the child will be overweight or obese also, perhaps through the establishment of unhealthy eating patterns and food preference in early childhood. The role of the mother in feeding her young child is likely to be critical in this process.