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Standard Baby Formula Puts on Extra Pounds, Study Says
Formula type affects weight gain
A study in the journal Pediatrics reports that not all formulas are created equal when it comes to infant weight gain. Researchers at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia found that babies on standard formula gained more weight than those who were fed hypoallergenic “protein hydrolysate-based” formulas.
The hypoallergenic formula fed babies had weight gain patterns similar to breastfed babies.”When you compare them to the ‘gold standard’ of breastfeeding, the babies (on hypoallergenic formula) looked like breastfed babies,” the lead researcher told Reuters.
These formulas are made from pre-digested cow’s milk proteins, and used mainly for babies who can’t tolerate standard formulas (which are also made from cow’s milk, but the proteins aren’t broken down).
Given that we know the roots of health conditions like obesity and diabetes start early and that, in general, formula fed babies gain more weight than breastfed ones, the researchers are interested to know if, and why the type of formula given has an effect.
Here’s what they found:
The infants in the study (whose parents had already decided to formula feed) were split into two groups. Half were fed regular cow’s-milk based formula, and half were fed the hypoallergenic protein hydrolysate formula.
The researchers tracked weight gain, and also observed feedings in the lab. The standard formula fed babies gained more weight and at 7 months of age they weighed an average of 2 lbs more than the other group. The average length of the groups of babies was the same.
The two types of formulas contain the same number of calories, but the hypoallergenic formulas contain more protein and slightly less carbohydrate.
In the lab, the babies on standard formula tended to take more food per feeding than the hypoallergenic crowd.
We already know that formula fed babies gain more weight, on average, than is shown by the growth charts for breastfed babies. It’s easier to overfeed on formula, and this study suggests that there is something about standard formulas that makes this more likely.
Breastfed babies tend to eat smaller, more frequent meals, whereas many parents space out formula bottle feedings and encourage babies to take in larger amounts in one sitting. I’ve heard lots of parents say that their formula-fed baby’s appetite is big — they want more to eat at once. This study shows there might be something in the chemical make up of standard formula that makes big servings more likely — for example, that the intact cow’s milk proteins don’t trigger a baby’s I’m full cues as quickly as breast milk or pre-digested protein formula.
More study on this is definitely needed — the more the formula-fed baby growth curves can match those of breastfed babies, the better for overall health.
Image: flickr/nerissa’s ring
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10 Comments
JEssica commented on Dec 29 10 at 1:25 pmI breastfed my child and he was consisently in the 95+% percentile of weight vs his 50% percentile of height. Are formula babies even bigger?
heatherturgeon commented on Dec 29 10 at 1:44 pmOnly on average, across the population. Formula fed babies tend to go up on the weight charts around 3-6 months or so. The link in this post takes you to an explanation of the WHO’s breastfed baby growth charts.
http://www.babble.com/baby/baby-feeding-nutrition/breastfed-baby-growth-chart-weight/
Rebecca commented on Dec 29 10 at 3:23 pmwhat a load of crap. my formula fed first son was always in the 40-50th percentile as a baby and is now a super-lean toddler.
Andrea Kechiche commented on Dec 29 10 at 3:50 pmMy son is 12 weeks and has been on an anti-allergy milk since day 6. He was born at 8lbs 9 ozs and at his 8 week check was 12 lbs 5ozs. He is on the 50th percentile for weight and the 91st for height. So he seems to be putting on good weight even though he’s on an anti-allergic milk.
Ariel commented on Dec 29 10 at 4:21 pmMy completely formula fed, fed on demand baby, while a large infant from birth (90th% for height and weight at birth and through the first 5 months or so), settled in at 40th% weight, 90th% height by the time he was 10 months old and is still at that curve at 2.5 years. He’s lean, tall, and loves his veggies. I’m sure that what a child eats once he’s on solids is more important.
heatherturgeon commented on Dec 29 10 at 4:27 pmrebecca: remember it’s not that all formula fed babies are heavier, it only means that across the populations (we’re talking samples of 10′s of thousands of babies), the average weights are higher.
anon commented on Dec 29 10 at 6:29 pmIs this ultimately meaningful? Will these formula fed babies not grow up, start walking, and turn into string beans as even the fattest babies seem to – and as mine has? Maybe if scientists follow these same children for 10 or 20 years they might be able to say something significant about whether two whole pounds of baby fat has any lasting health implications. In the meantime, why scare parents?
Realistically, people report that that hypoallergenic stuff smells and tastes awful, and at least one of the standard formulas is so full of lactose that it is rather delicious. I suspect that is your two pound difference right there.
Merrick commented on Dec 29 10 at 7:04 pm@Anon — They have tracked what it means. Formula-fed babies are more likely to grow up to be obese adults, and to develop diabetes. The reason for sharing is not to “guilt” people, but to inform them so they can decide based on real risk analysis what they want to do. Personally, this issue was a HUGE factor in why I breastfed, especially because I had GD, so my son already had an increased chance of developing diabetes in his lifetime.
IrishCream commented on Dec 29 10 at 8:44 pmOh jeez. Averages, people. Just because your kid didn’t fit the pattern doesn’t mean the study is wrong.
Linda, the original one commented on Dec 30 10 at 7:18 amAgain, this isn’t news. Babies aren’t designed to be nourished by cow’s milk. They’re not calfs.
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