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Educational intervention to modify bottle‐feeding behaviors among formula feeding mothers in the WIC Program: Impact on infant formula intake, weight gain and fatness
Author(s) -
KavanaghProchaska K,
Cohen R J,
Heinig M J,
Dewey K G
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a128-b
Subject(s) - infant formula , bottle , intervention (counseling) , weight gain , infant feeding , formula feeding , medicine , pediatrics , body weight , psychology , environmental health , demography , breast feeding , nursing , endocrinology , geography , sociology , archaeology
Formula‐fed (FF) infants consume larger quantities of milk and gain weight at a faster rate than exclusively breastfed (BF) infants. One hypothesis is that these differences are due to bottle‐feeding behaviors. We evaluated whether caregivers who were encouraged to be more sensitive to their infants’ satiety cues would alter their feeding practices, and if this would result in 1) lower formula intake at 4 mo of age, and 2) a less rapid rate of weight gain from ~1–2 to 4 mo. Exclusively formula‐feeding caregivers in the WIC program were enrolled in a double‐blind, randomized educational intervention trial. Both groups received standard education on infant feeding. The intervention group received additional pre‐tested messages on responsive bottle feeding. Caregivers completed 3 48‐h formula intake records, attended the infant feeding class and received a follow‐up educational phone call. Infants were measured at baseline and at 4 mo. We enrolled 104 caregivers but only 38 completed the study. The intervention improved knowledge of the key messages, but there was no significant impact on formula intake or bottle‐feeding behaviors. Formula intake at 4 mo was high in both groups (> 1100 mL/d). Infants in the intervention group gained significantly more weight, length and skinfold thickness than infants in the control group, contrary to our hypothesis. We conclude that overfeeding is common in this population, but modifying bottle‐feeding behaviors is a challenging task. (Source of research support: ERS Small Grants Program and FSNEP of California).