If Your Baby Is Formula Fed, New Research Shows That Introducing Solids Too Early Can Increase Your Child's Chances Of Becoming Obese Later.
If your baby is formula fed, new research shows that introducing solids too early can increase your child's chances of becoming obese later.
Does it really matter when you introduce solids to your baby? Well, if your baby is formula fed and not bottle fed, new research shows that introducing solids too early can increase your child's chances of becoming obese later. In a new study, researchers concluded that babies who were introduced to solids before they turned four months old were more likely to be obese by the time they turned three years old. Again, this only applied to formula fed babies, not breastfed babies. In fact, babies who were introduced to solids too early were six times as likely to become obese. Six times. The study will appear in the March issue of Pediatrics and is summarized in HealthDay. Researchers commented:
"Our study results suggest that adhering to the current American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines of waiting till 4 months to introduce solids has the potential to reduce the risk of obesity later on," explained study author Dr. Susanna Y. Huh, a pediatric gastroenterologist at Children's Hospital Boston. (Source: US News Health)The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends introducing solids between four and six months of age, and the researchers in this study encourage parents to follow the AAP's guidelines. If you'd like to read the overview of the study, check it out on US News Health. Because obesity is such an issue in our country today -- and it is a real health threat to our children-- I think it is important for parents to take note of research like this. If introducing solids "at the right time" can decrease your child's chances of becoming obese, I think it's a wise decision.