Parents are overfeeding their infants with milk, which is adding to Britain's obesity crisis. The overconsumption of milk is also allowing children to have too much protein by nearly three times the recommended limit.
Researchers from the University College London, Oxford University and Bristol University claim that the excess in protein is mainly due to parents overfeeding their children with milk, yogurt and other dairy products. Published in the British Journal of Nutrition, the study observed 2,336 children to conclude that 63 percent of them consumed too many calories. From the recommended limit of 968, children were consuming an average of 1,035.
A shocking 99.9 percent of babies under the age of two drink too much milk a day, according to the largest study on toddlers' diets. Due to the overconsumption of milk, toddlers take in too much excess protein, nearly three times the allowable limit.
Although underfeeding may be a more serious problem, overfeeding is a more common problem in infancy, according to Kid Spot. Researchers have warned that these factors may be significant to a child's future health.
Rapid weight gain during infancy is associated with an increased risk for obesity in adulthood. The excess of the recommended daily limit have also put toddlers at risk for high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Since parents typically worry about growth, many think their babies are not growing enough. The result of insisting the baby to finish a bottle or adding formula more than recommended.
The dietary preferences and habits are formed under the age of two, according to Hayley Syrad, lead author of the study from UCL's Health Behavior Research Center. Although breast milk is best recommended for babies for the fist six months from birth, children who are on solid foods no longer need to consume too much cow's milk or formula.
The NHS recommends not more than 600 ml of cow's milk or formula a day, according to Daily Mail. Aside from adapting good eating and drinking habits, toddlers should eat five portions of fruits and vegetables a day.
Children from six months to five years should also be taking daily vitamin supplements. Experts say that sugary, salty and fatty foods should all be limited.
