Atlanta, GA - The ideal of a big fat roly-poly infant may no longer be the ideal. In fact, new studies suggest that more babies today than ever are packing on so many pounds, it's putting them at risk of future health problems.

"He wasn't that big when he was born," says Sandy Larmore. But by the time her son Robert was four- months-old, he weighed more than 20 pounds, and was covered with rolls of fat.

"I was concerned," she admits. With good reason. According to a recent study in the Journal Obesity, infants today are 59 percent more likely to be overweight than 20 years ago.

Experts say part of the problem is parents who misunderstand their babies' tears. "All crying does not equal hunger," say pediatrician Dr. Karen Dewling. "I think it's very easy for parents to put a bottle in a baby's mouth to try to comfort them when in fact they might not be hungry."

And as the baby grows, experts advise parents to reduce juices and drinks with lots of sugar and increase exercise. "Giving them the opportunity to run around and play in a safe environment is how you exercise a 1-year-old," Dr. Dewling says. "Getting them outside, showing them a healthy lifestyle."

Sandy Larmore did exactly that. "I wouldn't dream of not taking the kids out every single day and we go out rain and shine, and it just makes them feel good."

Today, Robert is a perfectly proportioned 3-year-old. He was lucky. His mom understood the myth of a 'fat healthy baby.'

"I think everybody has this image of the healthy robust baby as being fat and full of rolls," says Dr. Dewling, "and what we really know is that that is not healthy. That's obesity from a very young age and that can correlate to obesity later in life."

Researchers at Rutgers University followed 96 mother-child pairs and watch their behaviors before and during feeding. They found that mothers who fed their babies eight times a day on average, rather than seven, and were less attentive to their baby's cues had heavier babies by the age of one.

The researcher's suggest that parents pay closer attention to their baby's cues during feeding, like pulling their head away from the bottle. They also suggest turning off the television during feedings, making it easier to pay more attention to your baby and having more one-on-one time.

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), childhood obesity in the U.S. has risen 'dramatically' in the past several decades. It is estimated that 25 to 30 percent of children are affected, although the AAFP believes the condition is 'underdiagnosed and undertreated.'
Breast Feeding & Obesity

Reducing childhood obesity is especially important, because children who are obese tend to become overweight adults. Childhood obesity has been linked to the development of diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes, which may lead to heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.

The National Kidney Foundation cites a study from Germany, which indicates that breast feeding may lower the chances of a child becoming overweight. A possible explanation, according to the NKF, is the higher levels of insulin found in the blood of children that have been bottle fed compared with children who are breast fed. The higher levels of insulin could stimulate fat deposits and the development of fat cells.
Tips for Parents

A child is considered overweight if he or she is heavier than 85% of other children who are the same age and height. A doctor can determine that by using a chart. If a child has bigger bones, it's possible that may be the reason for weighing more.

Since weight problems are very hard to fix, and because weight loss programs are often ineffective, it's important to prevent obesity in the first place. Here are some tips, from the American Academy of Family Physicians, to help keep your child at a healthy weight:

* Don't make your child eat when he or she isn't hungry.
* Don't use food to comfort or reward.
* Don't offer dessert as a reward for finishing a meal. It teaches a child to value sweets more than other foods.
* Offer your child a healthy diet. No more than 30% of calories from fat. Lots of fruit, vegetables, and grains.
* Don't eat at fast-food restaurants more than once a week.
* Limit how much TV your child watches. Try to get your child to do something active instead, like riding a bike or playing ball.
* Spend time being active with your child. Go on family walks and play outdoor games together whenever you can.
* Teach your child good eating and exercise habits now.

References

* American Academy of Family Physicians
* Journal Obesity
* National Kidney Foundation
* Rutgers University

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