A 1992 study from the University of California at Davis compared the
growth patterns of normal, healthy breastfed and formula-fed infants. Dubbed the
DARLING study (Davis Area Research on Lactation, Infant Nutrition, and Growth), the
investigation found that the two groups showed similar weight gain during the first three
months, but that the weight-for-length scores were higher for formula-fed infants between
four and 18 months, suggesting that breastfed babies were leaner. The
breastfed infants averaged 1 1/2 pounds (680 grams) less weight gain during the first
12 months.
This suggests that growth chart norms, which are based on formula-fed infants, and
put together by formula manufacturers, may themselves be "overweight." Dr.
Heinig of the DARLING studies says, "We've been able to show that breastfed babies
are normal weight and artificially fed babies are overweight."
Breastfed babies are leaner during the time when a lifetime supply of fat cells are
laid down, which helps explain why breastfed babies may tend to be leaner throughout their
lifetimes.
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