As results only 243 of the original 545 infants could be followed up. In both studies, fat mass in those who had been given normal formula was lower than in those given the enriched formula (after adjustment for sex) at 5 “8 years of age. In the first study children who had been on normal formula had 38% less fat mass than those in the enriched formula group. In the second study children who had been on normal formula had 18% less fat mass than those in the enriched formula group. A further analysis suggested that in the group of breastfed babies, faster weight gain in infancy was also associated with greater fat mass later.

According to Professor Atul Singhal from the MRC Childhood Nutrition Research Centre at the Institute of Child Health in London at least 20% of adult obesity is caused by over-feeding in infancy. When they are exposed to high-protein, high-fat foods, they are more likely to become obese, he said as a message to parents and health professionals. Singhal is the lead author of the studies. This study robustly demonstrates a link between early nutrition and having more fat in later life in humans “ a finding suggested by previous studies and confirmed in many other animals. Our findings are strong, consistent, show a dose-response effect, and are biologically plausible, he said. He explained that this study had wider implications. In public-health terms, it supports the case in the general population for breastfeeding “ as it is harder to over-feed a breastfed baby, Singhal said.