ArticleThe Journal of nutrition2021
Association Between Added Sugars from Infant Formulas and Rapid Weight Gain in US Infants and Toddlers.
Article in The Journal of nutrition, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers.
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Who cites it
18 citing papers in PubMed, 29 citations in OpenAlex.
- Early Life Added Sugars and Associated Appetite, Satiety, Growth and Adiposity in the First 2 Years of Life.Nutrients · 2026Article
- Longer Breastfeeding Is Associated With Healthier Body Mass Index Trajectories and Lower Risk of Overweight and Obesity in Youth Aged 9-12 Years.Pediatric obesity · 2026Article
- Early-Life Nutritional Determinants of Pediatric MASLD.Nutrients · 2025Review
- Effects of Infant Formula Type on Early Childhood Growth Outcomes: A Retrospective Cohort Study.Nutrients · 2025Article
- Sweetness Ratings of U.S. Infant Formulas.Nutrients · 2025Article
- Added Sugar Intake from Infant Formula and Complementary Foods: A Longitudinal Investigation and Implications for Infant Weight Gain.The Journal of nutrition · 2025Article
- US infant formulas contain primarily added sugars: An analysis of infant formulas on the US market.Journal of food composition and analysis : an official publication of the United Nations University, International Network of Food Data Systems · 2025Article
- Bean Consumption during Childhood Is Associated with Improved Nutritional Outcomes in the First Two Years of Life.Nutrients · 2024Article
- Es Niño o Niña?: Gender Differences in Feeding Practices and Obesity Risk among Latino Infants.Current developments in nutrition · 2024Article
- Breastfeeding duration and associations with prevention of accelerated growth among infants from low-income, racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds.Public health nutrition · 2023Article
- Article
- Are Complementary Feeding Practices Aligned with Current Recommendations? A Narrative Review.Children (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Review
- The big squeeze: a product content and labelling analysis of ready-to-use complementary infant food pouches in Australia.BMC public health · 2023Article
- Early exposure to added sugars via infant formula may explain high intakes of added sugars during complementary feeding beyond maternal modeling.Frontiers in nutrition · 2023Article
- Impact of Breastfeeding on Low Birthweight Infants, Weight Disorders in Infants, and Child Development.Cureus · 2022Review
- Adverse Effects of Infant Formula Made with Corn-Syrup Solids on the Development of Eating Behaviors in Hispanic Children.Nutrients · 2022Article
- Early rapid weight gain, parental body mass index and the association with an increased waist-to-height ratio at 5 years of age.PloS one · 2022Article
- An Exploratory Qualitative Study of Beverage Sweetening Practices in Middle Eastern Families.Inquiry : a journal of medical care organization, provision and financingArticle
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundFormulas often contain high amounts of added sugars, though little research has studied their connection to obesity.
objectivesThis 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).
methodsData 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.
resultsAdded 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.
conclusionsAdded sugars in formulas predict rapid weight gain in infants and toddlers. Educating mothers on lower-sugar options may enhance childhood obesity prevention.
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