Fat babies often grow up to be obese adults and the idea that a fat baby is a healthy baby is fast disappearing among parents.
Unfortunately, in the process, many parents have been made to feel guilty.
Recent advice to parents has been that the child should stay on the breast for as long as possible, the introduction of solids should be delayed and, when baby signals he is full, feeding should be discontinued.
This is still good advice, but may not prevent obesity.
A recent Canadian trial appears to indicate that differing feeding techniques seem to have little influence on whether a child gets fat or not.
What is suggested is that fat babies, like fat teenagers and adults, seem to have less activity than their thinner contemporaries.
I know that I, along with many doctors, have indicated disbelief when confronted by a grossly overweight individual who protests: “But doctor, I really don’t eat much.” This may be true more often than we were inclined to believe.
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