A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that many mothers are introducing complementary foods earlier than the recommended time of up to 6 months..

• 93% of mothers introduce complementary foods before the baby is 6 months old - the recommended age for weaning.

•40% - trying to give solid food to 4 month old babies.

• 9% - complementary foods are introduced as early as the 4th week of life of babies.

Early introduction of complementary foods can significantly increase a child's risk of developing obesity, diabetes, and even celiac disease..

The study also found that young, poorly educated and low-income mothers are more likely to introduce complementary foods too early.. The reason for this is that formula is too expensive, and there is a false myth that babies sleep much better when complementary foods are introduced..

But researchers warn that complementary foods before 6 months of age may be linked to chronic diseases such as diabetes and celiac disease.. Moreover, scientists add that untimely complementary foods can provoke an increased risk of obesity in the future..

As it turned out, this is partly the fault of the doctors themselves..

For example, Kelly Scanlon, co-author of the study and lead nutritional epidemiologist who focuses on nutrition, physical activity and obesity at the CDC, told NBC News that "

When asked why they started to introduce complementary foods so early, the main explanation was that the children were already old enough. Another part of the interviewed young mothers answered the same question that they did it because the child seemed hungry to them, or simply wanted to eat the same food as the parents, or on the recommendation of a doctor.

The researchers also found that mothers whose babies were formula-fed rather than breast-milk introduced complementary foods much earlier.. In particular, 53% of formula-feeding mothers introduced other foods before they were 6 months of age.. For comparison, the same figure for those who exclusively breastfed is 24%..

Nutritionists are concerned about the early introduction of complementary foods, because this leads to the fact that children receive less milk, and therefore undernourish.

nedug. en.