Infant formula feeding practices associated with rapid weight gain: A systematic review
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Updated: Feb 11, 2026
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Published on: June 9, 2023
Jessica Appleton1,2, Catherine Georgina Russell1, Rachel Laws3
1Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Insights
Formula feeding is linked to rapid infant weight gain, increasing obesity risk. Best practices like lower protein formula and avoiding bottle-feeding at bedtime may help reduce this risk.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nutrition Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Rapid weight gain in infancy is a risk factor for later obesity.
- Formula-fed infants show higher rates of rapid weight gain compared to breastfed infants.
- Potential mechanisms include formula composition and feeding practices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the association between infant formula feeding practices and rapid weight gain.
- To explore mechanisms linking formula feeding to excess weight gain.
- To provide recommendations for best practice formula feeding.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of 18 studies.
- Analysis of associations between formula feeding practices and infant weight gain.
- Identification of potential risk factors and protective strategies.
Main Results:
- Formula feeding is associated with increased risk of rapid infant weight gain.
- Several practices may contribute to excess weight gain, including formula composition and feeding methods.
- Lower protein content, avoiding cereals in bottles, and not feeding before sleep are potential interventions.
Conclusions:
- Formula feeding practices can influence infant weight gain and future obesity risk.
- Specific recommendations for formula preparation and feeding may mitigate rapid weight gain.
- Further high-quality research is needed to confirm these findings and refine recommendations.
Abstract:
Excess or rapid weight gain during the first 2 years of life is associated with an increased risk of later childhood and adult overweight and obesity. When compared with breastfed infants, formula fed infants are more likely to experience excess or rapid weight gain, and this increased risk in formula fed infant populations may be due to a number of different mechanisms. These mechanisms include the nutrient composition of the formula and the way formula is prepared and provided to infants. This systematic literature review examines the association between formula feeding practice and excess or rapid weight gain. This review explores these different mechanisms and provides practical recommendations for best practice formula feeding to reduce rapid weight gain. Eighteen studies are included in this review. The findings are complicated by the challenges in study design and accuracy of measurements. Nevertheless, there are some potential recommendations for best practice formula feeding that may reduce excess or rapid weight gain, such as providing formula with lower protein content, not adding cereals into bottles, not putting a baby to bed with a bottle, and not overfeeding formula. Although further well designed studies are required before more firm recommendations can be made.
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