Breast milk best for averting obesity risk
Obesity in children is a health issue which has been given the spotlight in recent years. Many factors play a part in the development of obesity; direct factors could include having a genetic disposition and the lifestyle choices made by the individual or their parents on their behalf. It is also the case that indirectly, the nutrient intake during infancy could have a 'programming effect' on later obesity risk. A study conducted in Germany and Spain, under the umbrella of the EU project CHOPIN, examined the protein content in feeding formula and complementary foods and breast milk. The aim was to identify the differences in protein and fat contents and how this may influence the total energy expenditure of formula fed and breastfed infants at six months old. The researchers collected data from 66 cases. They found that total energy expenditure per body weight was higher in the breastfed group and lower in the high protein formula fed group but that the differences did not constitute a statistically significant outcome. However, the data collected suggested that protein intake during the first months of life could be related to adiposity and excess fat in later life. The results showed that total fat mass was lower for the breastfed than for the low protein formula fed infants. The research report made the inference that a six month old infant fed on low or high protein formula from birth had, on average, experienced a 14 to 21% increase in total fat mass compared to those infants which were breastfed at least for the first three months.
