Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Multidisciplinary Approach to Obesity Management: A Case Report
05:10

Multidisciplinary Approach to Obesity Management: A Case Report

Published on: May 30, 2025

612

Baby-Led Weaning: What Role Does It Play in Obesity Risk during the First Years? A Systematic Review

Nazareth Martinón-Torres1,2, Nathalie Carreira1,2, Rosaura Picáns-Leis3

  • 1Unit of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Pediatric Service, University Clinical Hospital of Santiago (CHUS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

Nutrients
|April 3, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Baby-led weaning (BLW) may influence infant weight gain, but current evidence is inconclusive. More research is needed to determine if BLW reduces obesity risk compared to traditional spoon-feeding methods.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Nutrition Science
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a growing pandemic, necessitating early intervention strategies.
  • The first 1000 days of life are critical for establishing healthy eating habits.
  • Baby-led weaning (BLW) is an emerging feeding method with potential health implications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare infant weight gain between BLW and traditional spoon-feeding.
  • To assess the potential of BLW in reducing childhood obesity risk.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review following PRISMA guidelines.
  • Searched major databases: Pubmed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library.
  • Included eight studies with 2875 infants (2 RCTs, 6 observational).

Main Results:

  • Findings on BLW's effect on infant weight gain were indecisive.
  • Some studies suggested lower weight gain with BLW, while others were inconclusive.
  • Included studies had moderate to high risk of bias.

Conclusions:

  • Current evidence is insufficient to recommend BLW over spoon-feeding for obesity prevention.
  • Further high-quality clinical trials and prospective studies are required.
  • Optimal weaning practices for long-term health remain to be determined.

Keywords:
body mass indexchildhoodcomplementary feedingfeeding behaviorinfant nutritioninfantsoverweightweight gain

More Related Videos

Palatable Western-style Cafeteria Diet as a Reliable Method for Modeling Diet-induced Obesity in Rodents09:10

Palatable Western-style Cafeteria Diet as a Reliable Method for Modeling Diet-induced Obesity in Rodents

Published on: November 1, 2019

11.1K
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

27.5K

Related Concept Videos

Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Metabolism and Excretion01:20

Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Metabolism and Excretion

Drug metabolism, a critical process in the liver, involves two primary phases: Phase I reactions and Phase II conjugation. Obesity introduces significant alterations in this metabolic process, primarily due to fatty infiltration of the liver, leading to conditions such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This condition can modify the activities of both Phase I and II enzymes, impacting how drugs are metabolized in obese patients.Phase I metabolism sees variable effects across...
Drug Dosing: Obese Patients01:21

Drug Dosing: Obese Patients

In the United States, obesity is a prominent concern. It is linked to heightened mortality rates due to increased occurrences of conditions such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and diabetes compared to nonobese individuals. A patient is classified as obese if their actual body weight surpasses the ideal or desirable body weight by 20%, based on Metropolitan Life Insurance Company data. Ideal body weights consider average weights and heights for males and females...
Obesity01:24

Obesity

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in adipocytes...
Regulation of Food Intake01:30

Regulation of Food Intake

Short-term regulation of food intake primarily involves neural signals from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, blood nutrient levels, and GI tract hormones. Communication between the gut and brain via vagal nerve fibers plays a significant role in evaluating the contents of the gut. Clinical studies have shown that protein ingestion produces a more prolonged response in these nerve fibers compared to an equivalent amount of glucose. Additionally, the activation of stretch receptors caused by GI...