Obesity, Weight Gain & Babies Diet
Obesity Study - Aim
An obesity study is being carried out by a research team in Cambridge
to find out if obesity in later life may be caused by the way appetite
develops in new born babies. Until now there has been little research
looking at the possibility that obesity might be linked to the content
of diet at an early age. The Cambridge researchers think that the nerves
and hormones that control appetite may develop differently depending on
the type of food eaten, which may in turn effect the way we eat in later
life.
Obesity Study - Method
The research team will feed one set of new born rats with a standard diet,
and then feed another set with a high calorie diet, to find out how the
body develops differently in the two groups. Once the differences have
been identified, scientists hope that in the long term it will help determine
the best diet to feed babies to promote healthy weight maintenance and
avoid weight gain in adult life.
Obesity Study - Underweight
There is already evidence to suggest that the rate of development in a
newborn baby may have long-term health effects. Research has shown that
being underweight at birth, followed by rapid growth to an average weight
by the age of seven, also increases risk of CHD.
Obesity Study - Results
Obesity is an increasing problem in the UK. It is well established that
diet is closely linked to weight gain/loss and subsequently the development
of coronary heart disease. The results could help parents choose the correct
diet for their children and that may help them avoid obesity or weight
gain in later life.
Source: British Heart Foundation Oct 2002
Press Release
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