Obesity & Nutrition

Biography

Biography: Inga Thorsdottir

Abstract

Influences early in life have been observed to program body weight and the risk for developing obesity. Infant feeding has been associated with later BMI measures. High weight gain in infancy has also been associated with later overweight. We investigated infant diet and growth in two nation-wide cohorts (born 1995-96 and 10 years later 2005) through the first year of life and with a follow-up at the age of six years. Recommendations about infant diet were changed in early 2000. The comparison between the cohorts showed lower prevalence of overweight in the latter cohort which could be attributed to a changed diet, e.g. lower protein intake. In a randomized controlled trial comparing infants exclusively breastfed for 4 vs. 6 months, we did not observe a difference in growth between the groups, which was explained by small difference in intake between the two groups. According to several systematic literature reviews there is strong evidence for a protective effect of breastfeeding against overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence. Furthermore, higher protein intake in infancy and early childhood is convincingly associated with increased growth and higher BMI in childhood. Protein intake between 15 E% and 20 E% in early childhood has been associated with an increased risk of being overweight later in life. Breast-milk is the optimal infant diet and official recommendations world-wide have followed the WHO’s recommendation on exclusive breastfeeding for the infant’s first six months and continued breastfeeding parallel to giving other food until one or two year of age or as long as it suits the family. Increased knowledge has strengthened the evidence for this recommendation but more studies are needed. Beside further studies on infant feeding and later obesity, investigations on early nutrition and e.g. asthma and ADHD are needed.