{"id":3540,"date":"2011-03-02T10:30:20","date_gmt":"2011-03-02T15:30:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ehealth.cooperhealth.org\/?p=3540"},"modified":"2021-07-21T19:12:03","modified_gmt":"2021-07-21T19:12:03","slug":"parental-feeding-and-childrens-weight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/ehealth\/2011\/03\/02\/parental-feeding-and-childrens-weight\/","title":{"rendered":"Childhood Obesity Linked to Early Start on Solid Food"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Feeding infants solid foods too early in their development could result in early childhood obesity, according to a new study reported online February 7 in the journal Pediatrics<\/em><\/a>. The study found that introducing solid foods before 4 months of age resulted in a six-fold increase in early childhood obesity among babies who were formula-fed, or were weaned from breastfeeding before the age of four months.<\/p>\n

The Harvard-based study, called Project VIVA and supported by the National Institutes of Health, was the first to evaluate the association between timing of solid food introduction during infancy and obesity levels at age three. Researchers analyzed data from 847 children enrolled in the long-term study of women and their babies, recruiting the women before they gave birth and evaluating the babies through their first three years.<\/p>\n

Babies who were formula fed and introduced to solid foods before four months were 6.3 times more likely to be obese at age three. No association was found among breast-fed babies. Although it was unclear exactly why no association was found, medical experts speculate that breastfeeding mothers and babies are better able to recognize when the child\u2019s appetite is satisfied.<\/p>\n

Cooper pediatrician Beth A. Karmilovich, DO<\/a>, agrees:<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s biological. The mother\u2019s body is attuned to her baby. She produces the appropriate amount of milk for her baby\u2019s nutritional needs, and the result is a child who is not over-fed, which may be the case with formula-fed infants,\u201d Dr. Karmilovich said.<\/p>\n

Such overfeeding not only is unhealthy for the child, the symptoms it causes can worry parents into making unnecessary or inappropriate choices.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat often happens is, because the over-fed infant is vomiting, or gassy, or crying and seems uncomfortable, the parent will want to change the baby\u2019s formula, or the parent assumes the child must still be hungry and begins adding solid foods to the diet, or the parent will think the baby has GERD (gastroesophagael reflux disease)<\/a> and needs medicine.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut, in many cases, it\u2019s not what<\/em> the baby is drinking, it\u2019s how much<\/em>,\u201d Dr. Karmilovich said, noting that feeding a two-month-old baby an 8-ounce bottle every two to three hours is \u201cclearly too much.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s important for parents to understand that every time a baby cries does not necessarily mean the baby is hungry. Babies like to suck, so they will participate when given a bottle, but overfeeding sets them up for discomfort, distress and obesity, not to mention the stress it can place on parents, families, and households.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Karmilovich advises parents to maintain monthly pediatric appointments for their infants and to include discussion about feeding practices.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt Cooper, pediatricians spend a lot of time explaining early infant feeding to parents, as well providing individualized weight and nutrition advice for pediatric patients of all ages. We keep close track of children\u2019s weight and development, and we let parents know what\u2019s appropriate for their child at every age. Whether it\u2019s when to introduce solid foods to your infant or to advise you that your toddler is drinking too much juice and not enough milk, we help parents learn to keep their children healthy, fit and properly nourished,\u201d Dr. Karmilovich said.<\/p>\n

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