Missing link on childhood obesity has been found by the co-author of a new study into what Australian babies are being fed.

Co-author Associate Professor Jane Scott from Flinders University stated that eating habits of about 500 babies who were less than a year old in the Perth area were looked at for the study.

She said that rather than being surprised she was disturbed as the study stated that many babies were being fed junk food which could hamper their health by making them obese.

She said, "Nine out of 10 children had already received biscuits and cakes; eight out of 10 were eating hot chips or French fries.”

According to Associate Professor Scott, the findings were not related to any one socio-economic group but were for the whole of Australia.

She added, "The sample was representative of Perth, and I don't think there's any reason why Perth would be considered to be different from Adelaide or Sydney or Melbourne.”

It was stated by experts that babies were supposed to be given healthy food after being weaned off the breast and not junk food.