Link between Obesity and Babies Found

Obesity More Common in Babies Fed Solid Food Early

New research suggests that introducing solid foods to babies younger than four months of age may be linked to a greater risk of obesity.

The researchers reviewed data from 847 children and their mothers who participated in the Project Viva, a prospective pre-birth cohort study. When the infants were six months old, their mothers answered questions about breastfeeding and when solid foods were introduced. The researchers recorded the number of babies who were considered obese at three years of age.

Among breastfed babies, the age at which solid foods were introduced was not linked to obesity.

However, the results were different for formula-fed infants and infants who stopped receiving breast milk before four months of age. In this subgroup, eating solid foods before four months of age was linked to a statistically significant increased risk of obesity.

For more information about breastfeeding, please visit Natural Standard's Health & Wellness database.

References

1. Huh SY, Rifas-Shiman SL, Taveras EM, et al. Timing of Solid Food Introduction and Risk of Obesity in Preschool-Aged Children. PEDIATRICS (doi:10.1542/peds.2010-0740).

2. Natural Standard: The Authority on Integrative Medicine. http://www.naturalstandard.com/

http://www.depsyl.com/

http://back2basicnutrition.com/

http://bionutritionalresearch.olhblogspace.com/