Faculty Collaboration Database

Effects of Early Weight Gain Velocity, Diet Quality, and Snack Food Access on Toddler Weight Status at 1.5 Years: Follow-Up of a Randomized Controlled Infant Formula Trial. Nutrients 2021 Nov 04;13(11)

Date

11/28/2021

Pubmed ID

34836199

Pubmed Central ID

PMC8625308

DOI

10.3390/nu13113946

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85118356660 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   5 Citations

Abstract

This study followed children who participated in a feeding trial in which the type of randomized infant formula fed from 2 weeks significantly affected weight gain velocity during the first 4 months and weight-for-length Z (WLZ) scores up to 11.5 months. We focused on measures of anthropometry, dietary intakes, and parenting related to the provision of snack foods that were collected at the end of the trial (1 year) and the 1.5 years follow-up visit. We not only describe what toddlers are eating, but we also determined the independent and/or interactive effects of randomized formula group, early weight gain velocity, the nutrient content of the post-formula diet, and maternal snack food practices, on toddlers' weight status. Diet quality underwent drastic changes during this 6-month period. As infant formula disappeared from the diet, fruit and 100% fruit juice intake increased slightly, while intake of "What We Eat in America" food categories sweetened beverages and snacks and sweets more than doubled. Added sugars accounted for 5% of energy needs at 1 year and 9% at 1.5 years. Generalized linear mixed models revealed that, independent of the randomized formula group, greater velocities of weight gain during early infancy and lower access to snacks as toddlers predicted higher WLZ and a greater proportion of toddlers with overweight at 1.5 years. Energy and added sugar intake had no significant effects. These findings add to the growing body of evidence that unhealthy dietary habits are formed even before formula weaning and that, along with improving early diet, transient rapid weight gain and parental feeding practices are modifiable determinants that may reduce risks for obesity.

Author List

Mennella JA, Smethers AD, Decker JE, Delahanty MT, Stallings VA, Trabulsi JC

Author

Jake E. Decker MD Assistant Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Anthropometry
Diet Surveys
Eating
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Infant
Infant Formula
Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
Infant, Newborn
Male
Pediatric Obesity
Snacks
Weight Gain