WHO and the Indonesian Ministry of Health recommend that babies get exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of their lives. However, some babies may not be breastfed for various reasons. Indeed, because the mother's milk does not come out, the baby cannot suckle properly, or there is also because the mother does not want to breastfeed her baby. Finally, babies are given formula milk as their main food. However, is it true that formula milk babies are easily overweight?
Research shows formula babies are more susceptible to obesity
Breast milk is the best food for babies, so mothers are advised to give their babies breast milk only during the first six months of a baby's life. However, some babies have sometimes been given formula milk early for various reasons. You may have to be careful, because giving formula milk to babies can actually make babies overweight. Not only in her infancy, but it can also have an impact until she grows up.
Reported from the pages of The Guardian, research shows that baby milk bottles can become obese when they are adults. At least as much as 20% of obesity in adults is caused by excess eating in infancy, as said by Professor Atul Singhal of the MRC Childhood Nutrition Research Center at the Institute of Child Health in London.
Why can formula babies be overweight compared to breastfed babies?
Apparently there are many reasons that can explain why infant formula milk or baby milk bottles can be overweight.
1. Formula is easier for babies to consume
Baby milk bottles are more susceptible to overeating because they will easily swallow all milk given through bottles. The milk given may be more than what he needs, so this can increase his appetite in the future. Meanwhile, breastfed babies must work harder to get breast milk. He is also more able to limit his own intake of breastmilk which he sucks from the mother's breast, so that he can better control his appetite.
2. Formula milk contains more protein and fat
seen from the content, formula milk contains high protein, high fat, and high in sugar. This certainly can make formula milk babies more easily experience excess calorie intake, making it easier to experience weight gain.
Infant formula can consume around 70% more protein than breastfed babies at the age of 3-6 months. This is not good because very high protein intake can stimulate the release of more insulin. As a result, there is a buildup of more fat in the baby's body.
3. Formula milk can increase a baby's appetite
Infant formula can become less sensitive to leptin later on. Leptin is a hormone that regulates appetite and body fat. Lack of body sensitivity to leptin can make a baby's appetite become large, so that overeating. In the end, this causes the baby to be overweight or obese.
Breastfeeding baby breast milk is believed to have a positive impact on leptin levels during infancy and toddlers. This makes the baby more familiar with the condition of "hunger and satiety" in his body, so he can set his own food intake so as not to overdo it.