Can super-sizing start with baby bottles?

Follow me at @drClaire As a country, we have a weight problem. A stunning two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese, putting them at risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and all the other health problems obesity brings. While there are myriad reasons we are getting fatter as a nation, one very real and simple one is that our serving sizes are getting bigger. For example, 20 years ago the average serving of French fries was 2.4 ounces and 210 calories; now it’s 6.9 oz and 610 calories. The average soda was 6.5 ounces and 85 calories; now it’s 20 ounces and 250 calories. Our standard portions of bagels, muffins, cookies, movie popcorn, sandwiches, hamburgers, and pasta have literally doubled. We are all about super-sizing everything. A recent study published in the journal Pediatrics suggests that this super-sizing of servings and waistlines can start really early. Researchers surveyed the families of almost 400 2-month-olds that were only fed formula. They found that about half of them used bottles that were less than 6 ounces to feed their babies, and half used bottles that were 6 ounces or more. When they checked in with those babies at 6 months, the babies who were fed from bigger bottles had gained more weight than those who were fed from the smaller bottles — and were overall a bit chubbier (their “weight-for-length” was higher). We feel happy when our babies eat. We like it when they finish their bottles (and we tend to prepare full ones, not hal...
Source: New Harvard Health Information - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Children's Health Healthy Eating Parenting Source Type: news