Happy New Year and welcome to our first newsletter for 2021.
This month marks National obesity awareness week and to acknowledge this we are sharing two topics with you to address childhood obesity: Responsive feeding and the role of protein in infant growth.
Evidence suggests that responsive feeding may help support healthy growth1,2. We have developed short videos that will help parents recognise infant hunger and fullness cues so that they may better understand their infant's appetite.
High protein in early infancy is a likely cause of rapid growth which may increase childhood obesity risk3. We have developed a short advertorial to help you explain to parents that a high protein diet is not necessarily a good thing for their baby.
Responsive feeding nurtures a baby's natural appetite response and can help babies recognise and respond to feelings of hunger and fullness independently1,2. Check out our article, downloadable leaflet and videos that will help parents recognise infant hunger and fullness cues so that they may better understand their infant's appetite.
Based on the latest science, SMA® Nutrition has lowered the protein in infant formula and follow-on formulae in recent years4. The aim is to achieve a slower growth rate in formula-fed infants, comparable to the World Health Organisation growth standards,5 and to help reduce the infant's risk of becoming overweight or obese later in life.3
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended that pregnant women and new mothers be informed on the benefits and superiority of breastfeeding - in particular the fact that it provides the best nutrition and protection from illness for babies. Mothers should be given guidance on the preparation for, and maintenance of, lactation, with special emphasis on the importance of a well-balanced diet both during pregnancy and after delivery. Unnecessary introduction of partial bottle-feeding or other foods and drinks should be discouraged since it will have a negative effect on breastfeeding. Similarly, mothers should be warned of the difficulty of reversing a decision not to breastfeed. Before advising a mother to use an infant formula, she should be advised of the social and financial implications of her decision: for example, if a baby is exclusively bottle-fed, more than one can (400 g) per week will be needed, so the family circumstances and costs should be kept in mind. Mothers should be reminded that breast milk is not only the best, but also the most economical food for babies. If a decision to use an infant formula is taken, it is important to give instructions on correct preparation methods, emphasising that unboiled water, unsterilised bottles or incorrect dilution can all lead to illness.
References
1. Black, M. M., & Aboud, F. E. (2011). Responsive feeding is embedded in a theoretical framework of responsive parenting. The Journal of nutrition, 141(3), 490-494. https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.110.129973
2. Savage, J.S., Hohman, E.E., Marini, M.E. et al. INSIGHT responsive parenting intervention and infant feeding practices: randomized clinical trial. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 15, 64 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-018-0700-6
3. Koletzko B. et al. Am J Clin Nutr 2009;89:1502s-1508s.
4. Alexander DD et al. Growth of infants consuming whey-predominant term infant formulas with a protein content of 1.8g/100kcal: a multi-center pooled analysis of individual participant data. Am J Clin Nutr 2016; 104: 1083-1092
5. WHO Multicentre Growth reference Study group Acta Paediatr Suppl 2006; 450: 71H15.
