ABSTRACT
Childhood obesity is among the most difficult problems which pediatricians treat. Although I great pm of children are affected. this condition is under diagnosed and under treated. Obesity tends to track throughout Life. It presents numerous problem for the child as pediatric hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, increased risk of coronary heart disease and increased stress on the weight bearing joints. It lowers self-esteem and affects relationships with peers. This work studies idiopathic obesity in preschool children in Alexandria. A case control study was done on a total sample of 40 obese children, 34 overweight children and 160 matched controls. The study revealed significant increase of obesity in middle socioeconomic status, unhealthy food habits and an increase in time of TV watching. Also, a significant increase of positive family history among obese children was found. There was also a significant increase of obesity in bottle fed infants. Behavior disturbances were significantly increased among obese children. Parent education, diet management and physical education are the best guidelines for prevention