First Week Significant
in Childhood Obesity
April 27, 2005
US Researchers informed recently, "What you feed a
newborn baby during the first week of life could be
critical in deciding whether that baby grows up to be
obese." "There may be a critical period in that first
week during which the body's physiology may be programmed
to develop chronic disease throughout life," said Dr.
Nicolas Stettler, a pediatric nutrition specialist at
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
The research studied 653 white adults aged 20 to 32.
It was observed that each additional 100 grams (3.5
ounces) of weight gained during the first eight days
of life increased a baby's risk of becoming an overweight
adult by about 10 percent. The study also helps reinforce
recommendations that mothers breast-feed their babies.
"Only 64 percent of mothers initiate breast feeding,
and only 29 percent of babies are still being breast
fed when they are six months of age," said Dr. Stephen
Daniels of Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
Childhood obesity is a critical public health problem.
Therefore, all children should have weight, height and
body mass index - used to calculate obesity - tracked
every year.
Source: http://www.theepochtimes.com
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