Obesity and Chronic Disease Concerns, Q&A

Published by IFM

Studies have shown that infant formula causes obesity in children. Is this true?

Studies relating infant formula feeding to childhood obesity produce variable conclusions. Thus, there is no definitive scientific research indicating that breastfeeding protects against obesity.

What scientific research has shown definitively is that there are many lifestyle and environmental factors that affect weight gain in children. Some of these factors are also linked with breastfeeding choices. Studies that attempt to relate infant formula feeding to childhood obesity conducted over the last two decades have produced inconsistent findings. Some studies have shown that breastfeeding has a small protective effect against childhood obesity; some have shown no effect at all; and some have even shown that breastfeeding is positively linked with a child becoming overweight or obese.

Exclusive breastfeeding is the optimal feeding choice for infants during their first six months for many reasons. However, whether it protects against obesity or not is far from certain at this time.

Factors that are closely linked to obesity are:

• Family influences. For example, overweight parents are likely to contribute genetic and behavioral factors that may have long-term effects.
• Socio-economic class. Generally, people in lower socio-economic groups have lower quality diets and consume less fruit, vegetables and other nutritious foods.
• Children's diets. Often children do not follow nutrition recommendations and consume food they prefer that may have high fat, sugar and salt content.
• Physical activity. While an important way to burn calories, studies show that children's level of physical activity has declined in the U.S. and most European countries over the past several decades.

Scientific research has shown that lifestyle and environmental factors contribute to weight gain. When lifestyle factors are fully factored into the studies, apparent links between infant formula feeding and obesity disappear. The hypothesis that breastfeeding protects against obesity is not consistent with the fact that the incidence

of breastfeeding has grown over the past decades in most countries, simultaneously with the growing epidemic of obesity.

Further research is needed to determine the actual relationship between the increased breastfeeding and infant formula feeding rates with regard to the growing obesity epidemic worldwide. We are constantly undertaking research to ensure that our products reflect the most up-to-date findings in the safety of infant formula. We manufacture our products in accordance with guidelines and recommendations made by scientific and government authorities. Should scientific evidence uncover a link between weight gain and infant formula, we will modify our products according to new recommendations

I've read research that proves that infant formula feeding leads to chronic diseases like asthma, respiratory infections, allergies and diabetes? How do you defend the sale of infant formula based on these findings?

Children who are breastfed have greater natural protection from such diseases as ear infections, diarrhea and respiratory tract infections. In addition, breastfeeding may offer protection against the development of allergies and allergy-related diseases such as eczema, asthma, rhinitis and food allergies. However, no conclusive connections have been made between infant formula feeding and the increased risk of chronic diseases later in life.

Many of the studies relating to the health effects of breastfeeding vs. infant formula feeding have methodological limitations that raise questions about their reliability. We regularly work with scientific, medical and government authorities to create and enforce science-based food and health regulations.

The United Nations body that sets international standards for foods, the WHO/FAO Codex Alimentarius Commission, recognizes the need for infant formula. They recognize that infant formula is the only nutritionally complete substitute for breast-milk. It is, therefore, a necessary and important alternative for mothers who cannot or choose not to breastfeed for any reason.

A 2003 CATO Research report entitled Evaluation of the Available Literature Regarding Health Disparities Between Breastfed Infants and Non-Breastfed Infants concludes that:

• Scientific data does not exist that clearly shows infant formula to be a cause of disease in infants.
• Many of the epidemiological studies of the health effects of breastfeeding or not breastfeeding must be cautiously interpreted because of methodological limitations.
• Identifying risk factors associated with public health issues or disease through the use of epidemiological studies is difficult because of detection bias, confounding variables and inconsistent definitions.