Unintentional error in formula preparation and its simulated impact on infant weight and adiposity.
BACKGROUND
Accelerated weight gain in infancy is a public health issue and is likely due to feeding behaviours.


OBJECTIVES
To test the accuracy of individuals to dispense infant formula as compared with recommended serving sizes and to estimate the effect of dispensing inaccuracy on infant growth.


METHODS
Fifty-three adults dispensed infant formula powder for three servings of 2, 4, 6, and 8 fl oz bottles, in random order. The weight of dispensed infant formula powder was compared with the recommended serving size weight on the nutrition label. A novel mathematical model was used to estimate the impact of formula dispensing on infant weight and adiposity.


RESULTS
Nineteen percent of bottles (20 of 636) prepared contained the recommended amount of infant formula powder. Three percent were underdispensed, and 78% of bottles were overdispensed, resulting in 11% additional infant formula powder. Mathematical modelling feeding 11% above energy requirements exclusively for 6 months for male and female infants suggested infants at the 50th percentile for weight at birth would reach the 75th percentile with increased adiposity by 6 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Inaccurate measurement of infant formula powder and overdispensing, which is highly prevalent, specifically, may contribute to rapid weight gain and increased adiposity in formula-fed infants.
['Altazan|Abby D|AD|', 'Gilmore|L Anne|LA|', 'Guo|Juen|J|', 'Rosenberg|David M|DM|', 'Toupo|Danielle|D|', 'Gowins|Aaron|A|', 'Burton|Jeffrey H|JH|', 'Beyl|Robbie A|RA|', 'Chow|Carson C|CC|', 'Hall|Kevin D|KD|', 'Redman|Leanne M|LM|0000-0002-7267-7374']
D050154:Adiposity D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D000369:Aged, 80 and over D001835:Body Weight D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D005260:Female D006801:Humans D007223:Infant D041943:Infant Formula D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena D007231:Infant, Newborn D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D008962:Models, Theoretical D055815:Young Adult
feeding infant formula infant growth mathematical modelling