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IFC Comments on the Report of the White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity
For Immediate Release
May 17, 2010
May 17, 2010
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The International Formula Council (IFC) and its member companies applaud the White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity for addressing this important issue.
We support many of the recommendations made by the Obesity Task Force in its report "Solving the Problem of Childhood Obesity Within a Generation" for increasing breastfeeding in the U.S., such as workplace and childcare accommodations and community support programs for breastfeeding women as well as support options for women who cannot or choose not to breastfeed. We also support the position of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) that breastfeeding is ideal and offers specific child and maternal benefits. We are pleased that, through a concerted effort by the health community, government, and industry, recorded breastfeeding rates in the United States have increased during the past decade.
However, some of the statements made by the Obesity Task Force, especially in regard to infant feeding and possible implications of infant formula and obesity, are not scientifically supported and require additional research. The claim that infant formula is a contributor to obesity due to the effects of protein levels on insulin response is based on references taken out of context, one of which is almost 30 years old. Infant formula makers model their products on human milk – the gold standard – and protein levels have drastically changed over time to approach that goal. Data based on infant formulas produced almost 30 years ago are not relevant to today’s infant formulas and such data should not be the basis for policy making,
Further, it is important to recognize that because obesity is a multifactorial disease, careful attention must be given to other dietary and non-dietary factors, including maternal body weight status, maternal smoking status, maternal educational status, socioeconomic status, timing of introduction of complementary foods and total energy intake of the infant as well as behavioral factors later in life, such as exercise habits. These factors may have more influence in determining obesity risk later in life than method of feeding as an infant.
Finally, while we applaud the Obesity Task Force’s recommendation of guidance and support for women who cannot breastfeed, we believe women who choose not to breastfeed should receive the same guidance and support. Mothers should be supported and not be made to feel guilty for choosing to feed their baby infant formula, for whatever reason.
References Cited:
1. Arenz, S., Ruckerl, R., Koletzo, B., and von Kries, R. Breastfeeding and childhood obesity-a systematic review. Int J Obes. 2004; 28: 1247-1256.
2. Owen, C.G., Martin, R.M., Whincup, P.H., et al. Effect of infant feeding on the risk of obesity across the life course: a quantitative review of published evidence. Pediatrics 2005; 115:1367-1377.
3. Harder T, Bergmann R, Kallischnigg G, Plagemann A. Duration of breastfeeding and risk of overweight: a meta-analysis. Am J Epidemiol 2005;162(5):397-403.
4. Evenhouse, E., Reilly, S., Improved estimates of the benefits of breastfeeding using sibling comparisons to reduce selection bias. HSR: Health Services Research Part I. 2005; 40 (6 Pt 1): 1781–1802.
5. Kramer MS, Matush L, Bogdanovich N, Aboud F, Mazer B, Fombonne E, et al. Health and development outcomes in 6.5-y-old children breastfed exclusively for 3 or 6 mo. Am J Clin Nutr 2009;90(4):1070-4.
6. Kramer, M.S., Matush, L. Vanilovich, I. et al Effects of prolonged and exclusive breastfeeding on child height, weight, adiposity, and blood pressure at age 6.5 y: evidence from a large randomized trial. Am J clin Nutr 2007; 86: 1717-21
7. MichelsKB et al. A longitudinal study of infant feeding and obesity throughout life course. International Journal of Obesity. 2007; Jul. 31(7): 1078-85.
8. Han, Joan C., Lawlor, Debbie A., Kimm, Sue Y S. Childhood obesity. Lancet 2010; 375: 1737–48.
*The IFC is an association of manufacturers and marketers of formulated nutrition products, e.g., infant formulas and adult nutritionals, whose members are based predominantly in North America. IFC members are Abbott Nutrition, Mead Johnson Nutrition, Nestlé Infant Nutrition, and Pfizer Nutrition.