Low-Calorie Culture 'Damaging Child Development'

[Guest guest]

Hello CR ALL:

''Low-calorie culture 'damaging child development'

-----------------------------------------------

Mothers could be damaging their children's health by

applying their own weight-loss regimes to their babies'

diets, a survey has found.

The research discovered many women were feeding their babies

low fat, low calorie meals, which could harm their

development.

Dietician Luci s said: " An increasing number of mums

worry that their baby is, or could become, overweight and

are feeding low fat foods and low calorie meals that are

unsuitable.

" The research suggests that some mums are using their

knowledge of adult weight loss and " healthy eating " when

choosing what their babies eat, without understanding that

it could be damaging for their child.

" Low energy intakes in babies and toddlers often leads to

faltering growth, and could even affect development. A

healthy weaning diet is not the same as a healthy adult

diet. "

Research by baby milk company SMA Nutrition found that only

3% of women thought fat and 2% thought carbohydrate was the

most important aspect of their babies' diet, but 43%

nominated vitamins and minerals, 17% iron and 15% calcium.

[...]''

- http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_799121.html

-- Warren

[Guest guest]

This same concern was quite a big deal twenty years ago, when we worried more about women being too thin instead of too fat. I probably erred on the side of feeding my babies "low fat, low calorie meals, which could harm their development." We tended to be phobic 20 years ago about having "fat babies." Fortunately the boys turned out to be lean and strong, so I never regretted watching their calories when they were young.

I wonder if other mothers of my era remember having similar concerns about their babies getting fat. Maybe it was just the area of the country where we lived, but having a "fat baby" was tantamount to being a "bad mother." I supose this mindset has changed. Yes? No?

suz

----- Original Message -----

From: Warren

Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2003 5:37 PM

Subject: [ ] Low-Calorie Culture 'Damaging Child Development'

Hello CR ALL:''Low-calorie culture 'damaging child development' ----------------------------------------------- Mothers could be damaging their children's health by applying their own weight-loss regimes to their babies' diets, a survey has found. The research discovered many women were feeding their babies low fat, low calorie meals, which could harm their development. Dietician Luci s said: "An increasing number of mums worry that their baby is, or could become, overweight and are feeding low fat foods and low calorie meals that are unsuitable. "The research suggests that some mums are using their knowledge of adult weight loss and "healthy eating" when choosing what their babies eat, without understanding that it could be damaging for their child. "Low energy intakes in babies and toddlers often leads to faltering growth, and could even affect development. A healthy weaning diet is not the same as a healthy adult diet." Research by baby milk company SMA Nutrition found that only 3% of women thought fat and 2% thought carbohydrate was the most important aspect of their babies' diet, but 43% nominated vitamins and minerals, 17% iron and 15% calcium. [...]''- http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_799121.html-- Warren