Infant formula feeding practices associated with rapid weight gain: A systematic review

Abstract

Excess or rapid weight gain during the first 2 years of life is associated with an increased risk of later childhood and adult overweight and obesity. When compared with breastfed infants, formula fed infants are more likely to experience excess or rapid weight gain, and this increased risk in formula fed infant populations may be due to a number of different mechanisms. These mechanisms include the nutrient composition of the formula and the way formula is prepared and provided to infants. This systematic literature review examines the association between formula feeding practice and excess or rapid weight gain. This review explores these different mechanisms and provides practical recommendations for best practice formula feeding to reduce rapid weight gain. Eighteen studies are included in this review. The findings are complicated by the challenges in study design and accuracy of measurements. Nevertheless, there are some potential recommendations for best practice formula feeding that may reduce excess or rapid weight gain, such as providing formula with lower protein content, not adding cereals into bottles, not putting a baby to bed with a bottle, and not overfeeding formula. Although further well designed studies are required before more firm recommendations can be made.

Preparações Lácteas Consumidas Na Alimentação Complementar: Caracterização E Composição Nutricional Segundo a Participação De Alimentos Ultraprocessados

“…Merece destaque o elevado teor proteico das PL compostas por fórmula infantil, por serem geralmente adicionadas de farinhas. 28 Conforme já mencionado, as PL preparadas à base de composto lácteo apresentaram teores de micronutrientes superiores aos do LHM, exceto para cálcio. Os compostos lácteos contêm aditivos alimentares e açúcares, 51% de leite (no mínimo) e outros ingredientes lácteos ou não lácteos; por esses motivos, não são considerados substitutos do leite humano e, consequentemente, não são indicados para crianças menores de três anos.…”

Professional and non‐professional sources of formula feeding advice for parents in the first six months

“…Considering this high prevalence of formula feeding it is important that parents who are formula feeding their infants are provided with advice on both correct preparation and best practice formula feeding. This is important as formula feeding is related to adverse health outcomes such as rapid weight gain (RWG; Appleton, Russell, et al, ; Mihrshahi, Battistutta, Magarey, & Daniels, ) and overweight or obesity (Wen, Baur, Rissel, Xu, & Simpson, ). It is not clear what proportion of parents formula feeding follow preparation guidelines correctly.…”

“…Regarding the relationship between formula feeding and RWG, a recent systematic review found that formula with higher protein content, adding cereals into the formula or providing more frequent or larger feeds than an infant requires, could contribute to an infant experiencing RWG (Appleton, Russell, et al, ). The review also found that unresponsive feeding practices such as putting an infant to bed with a bottle and feeding to a schedule rather than infant demand may also contribute to an infant experiencing RWG (Appleton, Russell, et al, ). Providing information to parents on correct preparation and best practices to implement when feeding with formula may reduce the risk of these negative health outcomes.…”

“…There are potential negative health outcomes for infants fed with formula (Appleton, Russell, et al, ; Mihrshahi et al, ) and negative emotional experiences for mothers (Hvatum & Glavin, ; Lagan et al, ; Lee, ) that could possibly be avoided or diminished if these mothers are provided formula feeding advice and support. Health professionals such as MCHN or midwives are well placed to give this advice and support (Eronen, Pincombe, & Calabretto, ; Redsell et al, ; Redshaw & Henderson, ).…”

Clinical audit in the pediatric primary care office and overweight prevention in toddlers

“…Therefore, it is indispensable that pediatricians carefully revise their recommendations about complementary feeding and diet in the first 36 months of life. In particular, beyond sugar overconsumption [5], the excessive protein intake, especially of lactoproteins, has been identified as a risk factor for the premature development of obesity [6][7][8][9] leading to early adiposity rebound [10,11]. On the other side, a correct protein intake may be protective [12].…”