NEW YORK, February 8, 2011: Breastfeeding decreases the baby’s risk of becoming obese by the toddler years, a new study shows. Babies that were fed with ‘baby formula’ processed milk were six times more likely to become obese. <\/p>\n
Researchers at Children’s Hospital in Boston and Harvard Medical School studied the eating patterns of 847 children enrolled in Project Viva. About two-thirds of the mothers breast-fed their babies for at least four months, while the remaining mothers gave their babies formula. <\/p>\n
Among breast-fed infants, the timing of solid food introduction was not associated with obesity. But formula-fed babies who had been introduced to solid foods before 4 months of age were six times more likely to be obese by age 3. <\/p>\n
It’s not clear why the timing of solid food was linked with obesity risk among the formula-fed babies in the study. It may be that mothers who use formula are less tuned in to their baby’s hunger and satiety cues. Or early feeding of solid food could be a sign of other unhealthy behaviors that influence a child’s weight. For instance, mothers who use formula and offer solid food before four months may have a tendency to use food to soothe a fussy child or be more prone to less healthful eating themselves.<\/p>\n