[Obesity and complementary feeding time: a period at risk]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nutrition
• Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD)

Context:

• Rapid infant growth is linked to later adiposity.
• Birth feeding's impact on weight gain and obesity is debated.
• Complementary feeding timing's effect on adiposity is inconsistently reported.

Purpose:

• To review the evidence on infant feeding practices and their association with excessive adiposity.
• To highlight the importance of factors beyond complementary feeding timing, such as food type and density.

Summary:

• While birth feeding effects are debated, some studies suggest early complementary feeding (4-6 months) may not alter weight gain.
• Recent research indicates early introduction of complementary foods might program excessive fat gain, increasing adiposity later in life.
• Factors like food type, quantity, caloric density, appetite regulation, genetics, and excessive protein intake are critical.

Impact:

• Findings underscore the need for individualized infant feeding guidelines, especially for infants with obesity risk factors.
• Emphasizes a nuanced approach to complementary feeding, considering multiple dietary and individual factors.
• Informs future research on optimizing infant nutrition to prevent childhood obesity.