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. 2019 Dec;14(12):e12564.
doi: 10.1111/ijpo.12564. Epub 2019 Jul 26.

Unintentional error in formula preparation and its simulated impact on infant weight and adiposity

Abby D Altazan  1 , L Anne Gilmore  1 , Juen Guo  2 , David M Rosenberg  2 , Danielle Toupo  2 , Aaron Gowins  2 , Jeffrey H Burton  1 , Robbie A Beyl  1 , Carson C Chow  2 , Kevin D Hall  2 , Leanne M Redman  1
Affiliations

Unintentional error in formula preparation and its simulated impact on infant weight and adiposity

Abby D Altazan et al. Pediatr Obes. 2019 Dec.

Erratum in

Abstract

Background: Accelerated weight gain in infancy is a public health issue and is likely due to feeding behaviours.

Objectives: To test the accuracy of individuals to dispense infant formula as compared with recommended serving sizes and to estimate the effect of dispensing inaccuracy on infant growth.

Methods: Fifty-three adults dispensed infant formula powder for three servings of 2, 4, 6, and 8 fl oz bottles, in random order. The weight of dispensed infant formula powder was compared with the recommended serving size weight on the nutrition label. A novel mathematical model was used to estimate the impact of formula dispensing on infant weight and adiposity.

Results: Nineteen percent of bottles (20 of 636) prepared contained the recommended amount of infant formula powder. Three percent were underdispensed, and 78% of bottles were overdispensed, resulting in 11% additional infant formula powder. Mathematical modelling feeding 11% above energy requirements exclusively for 6 months for male and female infants suggested infants at the 50th percentile for weight at birth would reach the 75th percentile with increased adiposity by 6 months.

Conclusions: Inaccurate measurement of infant formula powder and overdispensing, which is highly prevalent, specifically, may contribute to rapid weight gain and increased adiposity in formula-fed infants.

Keywords: feeding; infant formula; infant growth; mathematical modelling.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Statement: The authors have no conflicts of interest relevant to this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The observed prevalence of infant formula powder dispensing error (A) and mathematically modeled impact of 11% over-dispensing on infant weight trajectories (B – female, C - male) and percent body fat at 6 months of age (D). Data are shown as mean ± SD. OD= over-dispensing
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