Early Solid Foods May Lead to Later Obesity

Feb. 09, 2011 - It's often a baffling issue for new parents: when to start solid foods?

For children who are formula-fed, starting before 4 months appears to greatly raise the risk for obesity by age 3, a new study says. Timing of solid foods doesn't seem to matter for infants who are breast-fed.

The study, published this week in the journal Pediatrics, is important because how youngsters eat in early childhood is believed to set the stage for eating patterns - and weight - later in life. Previous studies hadn't provided consistent answers on whether the timing of solid foods could make a difference in a child's weight.

"Our study results suggest that adhering to the current American Academy of Pediatrics [AAP] guidelines of waiting till 4 months to introduce solids has the potential to reduce the risk of obesity later on," says study author Susanna Y. Huh, M.D., at Children's Hospital Boston.

Tracking children from birth

The researchers looked at data on 847 children enrolled in Project Viva, a long-term study of mothers and their children. The children were followed for at least three years after birth.

Of the group, 67 percent were breast-fed and 32 percent were formula-fed. When the youngsters were 3 years old, 9 percent were considered obese.

Babies who were fed formula, and then introduced to solids foods before they were 4 months old, were 6.3 times more likely to be obese when they were 3 years old. No association between early solids and later obesity was found in kids who had been breast-fed.

Following the cues

Researchers don't know why early solids appear to make such a significant difference for the formula-fed babies. But Dr. Hu has one idea: "Mothers of infants who are breast-fed may better understand and recognize their babies hunger and satiety [fullness] cue,” she says. "Mothers of formula-fed infants may not recognize these as well."

To keep your child at a healthy weight, follow the AAP's recommendations:

• Don't start solid food until 4 to 6 months of age.
• Introduce cereals and vegetables before sweeter foods.
• Avoid giving your child foods high in sugar or fat.
• Avoid giving your child foods high in sugar or fat.

Introducing Solids

Ready to start your child on solids? Here's a guideline for the typical order of foods.

Introduce new foods one at a time, at least a week apart, so that if your child develops a reaction, you can tell which food triggered it:

• Cereals, fortified with iron, calcium, and zinc
• Pureed vegetables, such as peas and carrots
• Pureed fruits, such as applesauce and peaches
• Protein, such as meat, poultry, or cooked dried beans and peas

How much to serve?

"A good rule for portion size is that a meal should be about the size of a child's fist," says Goutham Rao, M.D., director of the weight management and wellness center at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Always talk with your health care provider to find out more information.