Chubby babies: Cute but not healthy

It is totally normal for babies to be chubby but it all depends on what one means to be fat. Studies show that obese babies or babies who quickly gain weight are more likely to become obese later in life.
If mothers are concerned about their baby’s weight, they should consult their baby’s pediatrician. Growth, development and weight are great topics to discuss during routine baby exams. “The path toward obesity actually begins in the womb, with research showing babies born to very obese mothers have already begun to accumulate fat around their stomachs,” said dietitian Raneem Abdulmajeed. “There are two reasons why babies are born obese. DNA is the first one. Larger adults are more likely to have larger babies. Another is that they simply receive more food in the womb than they need,” she added.
Overweight pregnant women are more likely to have obese babies, partly as they tend to eat lots of sugary foods during pregnancy, which are passed onto the baby in the womb and turn to fat. This can also be a problem among non-obese pregnant women who eat a high-sugar diet. “Overweight mothers may also pass on genes that program their babies to handle fat in a way that makes them more likely to be obese,” said the dietitian. “Obese women are likely insulin resistant, as fat cells release chemicals that make the body less sensitive to it. This is a major risk factor for development of gestational diabetes, which, in turn, increases the chance of having an obese baby,” she added.
Primary weight gain and birth weight are among the eight factors for obesity that British medical researchers identified in a study of more than 8,000 children. Watching more than eight hours of television per week at 3 years of age and parental obesity are some of the other factors.
More babies are overweight today than 20 years ago – up from 3 percent to 6 percent for babies younger than 6 months old and up from 6 percent to 10 percent for children younger than 6 years of age. Experts suggest that early eating habits are crucial in establishing and maintaining a healthy weight later in life. “Pediatricians are concerned about the rise of obesity in children because obesity may lead to heart disease caused by high cholesterol and/or high blood pressure type 2 diabetes, asthma, sleep apnea and of course social discrimination,” said Abdulmajeed.
Dietitians and pediatricians recommend a mother to never put her baby on a diet unless it’s under the supervision of a health care provider. “During the baby’s early months, the doctor will plot the baby’s growth on charts that will match weight with length,” said Abdulmajeed. “Then the baby’s doctor will calculate the BMI and the mom can then use the charts to keep track with the child’s growth trend and will be able to compare the growth with other infants of the same gender and age,” she added.
Infants need to have a diet that is high in fat to keep up the growth during childhood. Babies who are wholly breastfed usually get around half of their daily calories from the breast milk’s fat. “As a result, caloric restrictions aimed at reducing weight are not recommended for babies aged two and under,” said Abdulmajeed. ” Babies who are 9-month-old and above may not face imminent health problems, but if they carry the extra weight into adulthood, they face a higher risk of diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol,” she added.
Being too heavy can delay crawling, walking and essential parts of a baby’s development. “Parents of chubby babies should take a deep look into their own diets. Parents give their children whatever is on the tables. If the family is heavy, the babies are going to be overweight and it might be very difficult to lose their weight,” said Abdulmajeed.

To keep the baby on a healthy weight:
• Limit media use: The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages media use by children younger than age two. The more iPads, iPhones, TV or laptops the baby watches, the greater their risk is of becoming obese.
• Nursing: Numerous researches show that breastfeeding reduces the risk of childhood obesity and other diseases.
• Mothers should monitor their weight gain during pregnancy. Excessive weight gain during pregnancy can increase a baby’s birth weight. Research suggests that as birth weight increases, so does the risk of childhood obesity.
• Limit sugar, salt and flour intake: Juice isn’t a necessary part of a baby’s diet. As you start introducing solid foods, consider offering nutritious fruits and vegetables instead. Try avoiding white colored foods; don’t add any sugar or salt to their foods. Breads and desserts are a big no.
• Experiment with ways to soothe the baby. When the baby cries, don’t automatically turn to formula or breast milk to quiet the baby’s sobs. Sometimes a different position, a calmer environment or a gentle hug is all that’s needed.
• Be a good role model: Eat healthy yourself because babies are copy cats. They will watch you and they will copy you so make smart choices.
• Involve them in physical activities: Run, swim or just walk. Do anything to involve them in some exercises. Make it fun and encourage them to do more.
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