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| Parents 'may be overfeeding infants', experts warn | Parents 'may be overfeeding infants', experts warn |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Parents may be feeding their babies and toddlers larger portions than they need, experts have warned. | Parents may be feeding their babies and toddlers larger portions than they need, experts have warned. |
| Overweight children between four and 18 months old eat similar food to healthy weight children but have bigger portions, a study found. | Overweight children between four and 18 months old eat similar food to healthy weight children but have bigger portions, a study found. |
| The University College, London report said parents may not realise how much young children should be eating or the dangers of them being overweight. | |
| It said feeding guidelines needed to be more specific and better known. | It said feeding guidelines needed to be more specific and better known. |
| 'Birth weight tracks' | 'Birth weight tracks' |
| The study of data from a UK survey, being presented at the European Obesity Summit in Gothenburg, Sweden, looked at eating diaries parents kept for 2,564 children. | The study of data from a UK survey, being presented at the European Obesity Summit in Gothenburg, Sweden, looked at eating diaries parents kept for 2,564 children. |
| The diaries showed what children ate, how often they were eating and the size of their portions. | The diaries showed what children ate, how often they were eating and the size of their portions. |
| Researchers used the data to compare the eating habits of overweight children - classed as being in the heaviest 15% in their age group - and those of a healthy weight. | Researchers used the data to compare the eating habits of overweight children - classed as being in the heaviest 15% in their age group - and those of a healthy weight. |
| The report found overweight children were consuming larger meals than their counterparts (141 calories versus 130 calories). | The report found overweight children were consuming larger meals than their counterparts (141 calories versus 130 calories). |
| Report author Hayley Syrad, from University College, London, said: "The research suggests eating frequency is having no impact on weight and it's not that parents of larger children are giving them an extra Mars bar or apple - it's that their portions are bigger." | |
| For every extra 24 calories consumed during each meal, there was a 9% increased risk of becoming overweight or obese, researchers said. | For every extra 24 calories consumed during each meal, there was a 9% increased risk of becoming overweight or obese, researchers said. |
| Ms Syrad said the research suggested some parents may be overfeeding their infants, potentially under the belief it is healthy for babies to be "chubby". | Ms Syrad said the research suggested some parents may be overfeeding their infants, potentially under the belief it is healthy for babies to be "chubby". |
| She added: "We know that even birth weight tracks into later life. If children are overweight when they are under two it tracks into adulthood. | She added: "We know that even birth weight tracks into later life. If children are overweight when they are under two it tracks into adulthood. |
| "A bigger baby is likely to be a bigger child and then a bigger adult." | "A bigger baby is likely to be a bigger child and then a bigger adult." |
| How much food should toddlers have? | |
| According to Public Health England, which publishes its advice on the NHS Choices website, there is "very little official guidance on precisely how much food children require". | |
| But it says: "A good rule of thumb is to start meals with small servings and let your child ask for more if they are still hungry. | |
| "Try not to make your child finish everything on the plate or eat more than they want to. And avoid using adult-size plates for younger children as it encourages them to eat oversized portions." | |
| The guidance also says children should be encouraged to eat slowly and have set mealtimes. | |
| Judy More, a nutritionist and paediatric dietician, said some parents were overfeeding their babies and young children out of fear of them being underfed. | Judy More, a nutritionist and paediatric dietician, said some parents were overfeeding their babies and young children out of fear of them being underfed. |
| She said babies and young children who are not overweight should eat until they are full rather than being made to finish everything on their plate. | She said babies and young children who are not overweight should eat until they are full rather than being made to finish everything on their plate. |
| "It's the parents' responsibility to provide nutritious food, but they should allow children to eat as much they want to." | |
| Ms Syrad added that eating guidelines for infants and toddlers needed to be more specifically catered to smaller age ranges. | Ms Syrad added that eating guidelines for infants and toddlers needed to be more specifically catered to smaller age ranges. |
| She said it was important for future research to follow the children in the study and see how food intake affects their weight as they get older. | She said it was important for future research to follow the children in the study and see how food intake affects their weight as they get older. |
| Are you affected by the issues raised in this story? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. | Are you affected by the issues raised in this story? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |