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Body weight of Pakistani infants reared on different feeding regimes
1University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
Archivos Latinoamericanos De Nutricion
|March 1, 1989
Insights
Breastfed infants gained weight better initially, while bottle-fed infants showed improved growth later in the first year. Breastfed infants were quicker to double their birth weight.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nutritional Science
- Growth and Development
Background:
- Infant feeding practices significantly impact growth and development.
- Understanding optimal nutrition for infants in diverse populations is crucial.
- Previous research indicates varied growth patterns based on feeding methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of different infant feeding regimes on body weight gain.
- To compare growth trajectories of breast-fed, bottle-fed, and combined-fed infants during the first year of life.
- To determine the influence of feeding practices on achieving specific growth milestones, such as doubling birth weight.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study design was employed.
- Data collection occurred over the first year of life in Pakistani infants.
- Infant feeding regimes (breast-feeding, bottle-feeding, combined feeding) were monitored.
Main Results:
- Breast-fed infants demonstrated superior weight gain during the first six months.
- Bottle-fed infants exhibited enhanced growth in the latter six months of the first year.
- Infants exclusively breast-fed reached the milestone of doubling their birth weight earlier compared to other feeding groups.
Conclusions:
- Feeding regimes influence infant growth patterns differently throughout the first year.
- Early exclusive breastfeeding supports rapid initial weight gain and earlier achievement of birth weight doubling.
- Later introduction or exclusive bottle-feeding may be associated with accelerated growth in the second half of the first year.
Abstract:
A longitudinal study during the first year of life was conducted in Pakistani infants, to investigate the effect of feeding regimes on body weight. On an average, breast-fed infants showed better weight gain in the first six months. In the last six months of their first year, however, bottle-fed infants grew better. Breast-fed infants doubled their birth weight earlier than bottle- or combined-fed infants.