Children were up to 38% fatter than their peers at age 8 if they’d been fed with enriched formula as babies, according to new research
Babies who are fed enriched infant formula are at a higher risk of developing heart disease and obesity later in life than babies fed with either regular formula or breast milk, reports The Guardian. The study, from the MRC Childhood Nutrition Research Centre at the Institute of Child Health in London, suggests that over-feeding as a baby causes at least 20% of obesity cases later in life. Professor Atul Singhal, lead author of the study, and colleagues caught up with children they had studied as babies in the 1990s. Some of the children had been fed with nutritionally-enriched-baby formula, which is now only given to weak or premature babies, while the others were fed with standard formula milk.The researchers discovered that by the age of 8, those who were given the enriched formula had a fat mass of up to 38% more than those who were fed the standard formula."When they are exposed to high-protein, high-fat foods, they are more likely to become obese," said Professor Atul.Professor Atul explained that while breastfed babies are able to limit their own intake of milk when feeding because they have to work hard to get it, bottle-fed babies simply swallow what they are given, which increases the risk that they’ll be offered more than they need. "This study robustly demonstrates a link between early nutrition and having more fat in later life in humans – a finding suggested by previous studies and confirmed in many other animals. Our findings are strong, consistent, show a dose-response effect, and are biologically plausible," said Professor Atul.
my first lo was mix fed, therefor he had different amounts at every feed, and he fed on demand with formular, im guessing this goes against advice, and it did cause alot of waste milk, but it was how it worked for him, sometimes i did worry as people seem to think how much there child eats is a sign of great parenting.
im guessing at this so could be wrong, are they on about the 'hungry baby' formular??
again i could be wrong but are there more calories and fat in formular so bf babies should eat more??? but again surely babies know when they are hungry no matter what they are eating??
