Obese fathers could be harming their child’s ability to make friends at nursery or school, a new study suggests.

Scientists in the US found that the children of obese parents are at much greater risk of developmental delays by the age of three.

When mothers were obese, children were far more likely to fail tests of their fine motor skills, which examines how well youngsters can manipulate objects using their fingers and hands.

Similarly, children whose father was obese - but not their mother - were also less likely to pass social skills tests, meaning they would struggle in social situations and may find it harder to make friends.

It is the first study to look at how a father’s weight at conception can influence the development of youngsters.