Is it true that formula-fed babies are more prone to being overweight?

WHO and the Indonesian Ministry of Health recommend that babies receive exclusive breastfeeding for their first 6 months of life. However, some babies may not be able to be breastfed for various reasons. Indeed, because the mother's milk does not come out, the baby cannot breastfeed properly, or because the mother does not want to breastfeed the baby. Finally, babies are given formula milk as their main food. However, is it true that formula-fed babies are easily overweight?

Research shows formula-fed babies are more prone to obesity

Breast milk is the best food for babies, so mothers are advised to give their babies only breast milk for the first six months of a baby's life. However, some babies are sometimes given formula milk from an early age for various reasons. You may have to be careful, because feeding formula milk to babies can actually make the baby overweight. Not only in her infancy, but it can have an impact until she grows up.

Reporting from the page of The Guardian, research has shown that bottle-fed babies can become obese as adults. At least 20% of obesity in adults is caused by overeating in infancy, says Professor Atul Singhal of the MRC Childhood Nutrition Research Center at the Institute of Child Health in London.

Why can formula-fed babies be overweight than breastfed babies?

It turns out that there are many reasons that could explain why formula-fed or bottle-fed babies can become overweight.

1. Formula is easier for babies to consume

Bottle-fed babies are more prone to overfeeding because they will swallow all the milk given in the bottle easily. The milk given may be more than he needs, so this can increase his appetite in the future. Meanwhile, breastfed babies have to work harder to get breast milk. He is also better able to limit his own intake of milk that he sucks from the mother's breast, so that he can control his appetite more.

2. Formula milk contains more protein and fat

Judging from its content, formula milk contains high protein, high fat, and high sugar. This certainly can make it easier for formula-fed babies to experience excess calorie intake, making it easier for them to gain weight.

Formula-fed babies can consume about 70% more protein than breastfed babies at 3-6 months of age. This is not good because very high protein intake can stimulate the release of more insulin. As a result, there is more fat accumulation in the baby's body.

3. Formula milk can increase the baby's appetite

Formula-fed babies may become less sensitive to leptin later in life. Leptin is a hormone that regulates appetite and body fat. Lack of sensitivity of the body to leptin can make the baby's appetite bigger, so that he overeat. Ultimately, this causes the baby to be overweight or obese.

Breastfeeding breastfed babies is believed to have a positive impact on leptin levels during infancy and toddlerhood. This makes the baby more familiar with the "hungry and full" conditions in his body, so that he can adjust his own food intake so as not to overdo it.