Association Between Added Sugars from Infant Formulas and Rapid Weight Gain in US Infants and Toddlers

Abstract

Background: Formulas often contain high amounts of added sugars, though little research has studied their connection to obesity.

Objectives: This study assessed the contribution of added sugars from formulas during complementary feeding on total added sugar intakes, and the association between these sugars and upward weight-for-age percentile (WFA%) crossing (i.e., participants crossing a higher threshold percentile were considered to have an upward crossing).

Methods: Data from three 24-hour dietary recalls for infants (n = 97; 9-12 months) and toddlers (n = 44; 13-15 months) were obtained in this cross-sectional analysis. Foods and beverages with added sugars were divided into 17 categories. Pearson's correlations were used to test relations between added sugar intake and upward WFA% crossing, followed by multivariable regressions when significant. ANOVA compared intakes of all, milk-based, and table foods between primarily formula-fed compared with breastfed participants. Multivariable regressions were used to test effects of added sugars and protein from all foods compared with added sugars and protein from milk-based sources on upward WFA% crossing.

Results: Added sugars from formulas comprised 66% and 7% of added sugars consumed daily by infants and toddlers, respectively. A significant association was observed between upward WFA% crossing and added sugars from milk-based sources after controlling for gestational age, sex, age, introduction to solid foods, mean energy intakes, and maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and education (β = 0.003; 95% CI, 0.000-0.007; P = 0.046). Primarily formula-fed participants consumed nearly twice the energy from added sugars (P = 0.003) and gained weight faster (upward WFA% crossing = 1.1 ± 1.2 compared with 0.3 ± 0.6, respectively; P < 0.001) than their breastfed counterparts.

Conclusions: Added sugars in formulas predict rapid weight gain in infants and toddlers. Educating mothers on lower-sugar options may enhance childhood obesity prevention.

Keywords: added sugars; childhood obesity; complementary feeding; infant formula; infant rapid weight gain.

FIGURE 1

Daily energy intakes in total and from specific macronutrients by infants and toddlers who were primarily formula-fed (breastfed ≤ 2 months; n = 31) compared with those who were primarily breastfed (breastfed ≥ 3 months; n = 110). Values are means ± SDs. *Different from breastfed at P = 0.003.