Spoon-fed Babies More Likely to be Obese During Childhood: Study

Babies who are weaned by spoon-feeding end up more obese than the infants who are allowed to feed themselves, claims a latest study

The study conducted by researchers at Swansea University compared the eating styles and weights of infants weaned using the traditional spoon feeding style versus the baby-led approach. The researchers noticed that during weaning when infants are allowed to feed themselves their chances of being overweight and even overeating is less as toddlers.

According to the study led by Dr Amy Brown and Michelle Lee from the University's College of Human and Health Sciences, in the baby-led weaning the infants feed themselves family foods from the start. They are given a range of whole foods from which they choose whereas in the parent spoon feeding method the baby is given pureed food.

A study was conducted on 298 babies. In the two phase study, the researchers studied the babies and also the way solid food was introduced to the babies between 6 and12 months in the first phase. The second phase focused on the weight and eating behavior of the same infants between 18-24 months.

The researchers noticed that in the baby-led weaning approach the infants were less likely to overeat and be fussy. Their chances of getting obese as toddlers was less as they had a better ability to stop eating when full unlike their spoon fed peers who were fussy eaters. The results were concluded after taking into consideration factors such as birth weight, weaning age, breastfeeding and mother's background.

"The study indicates that taking a baby-led approach to weaning may reduce a baby's risk of being overweight as they are in control of their food intake," Amy Brown of Swansea University said in a press release. "This results in the baby being better able to control his or her appetite which could have a long-term impact upon weight gain and eating style that may continue into childhood."

It is necessary to allow a child to regulate his or her appetite and not pressure the baby to consume more than what he/she needs. This encourages the infant to develop healthy eating patterns for life.

This study was documented in the Pediatric Obesity Journal.