Prevention To Start At Birth?
Most doctors will agree that breast feeding your baby is better than giving it formula. Some doctors are going as far as to say that it could also be the difference between being overweight as an adult or not.
This has caused researched at the University of Buckingham to experiment with adding leptin, a hormone naturally found in breast milk, to baby formulas and foods.
It's been noted that babies who are given formula grow at a quicker rate than those who receive their mother's milk. They are also less likely to become obese later in life.
The formulas have yet to be tested on human infants, but laboratory experiments on rats have shown promising results. The offspring of rats given the hormone during pregnancy stayed slim when fed a fattening diet; the offspring of those who didn't receive leptin gained weight and even developed diabetes.
Dr. Nick Finer says the discovery is “exciting but at the same time so scary.†He also questions the ethical component too—is it fair to test something like this on a new born?
Photo: webweaver.nu
This has caused researched at the University of Buckingham to experiment with adding leptin, a hormone naturally found in breast milk, to baby formulas and foods.
It's been noted that babies who are given formula grow at a quicker rate than those who receive their mother's milk. They are also less likely to become obese later in life.
The formulas have yet to be tested on human infants, but laboratory experiments on rats have shown promising results. The offspring of rats given the hormone during pregnancy stayed slim when fed a fattening diet; the offspring of those who didn't receive leptin gained weight and even developed diabetes.
Dr. Nick Finer says the discovery is “exciting but at the same time so scary.†He also questions the ethical component too—is it fair to test something like this on a new born?
Photo: webweaver.nu
Trend Themes
1. Leptin-aided Baby Formula - The development of baby formulas containing leptin is a potential trend in the infant formula industry, potentially disrupting the market with a possible solution to obesity prevention.
2. Obesity Prevention From Birth - A trend towards incorporating preventative measures for obesity from infancy could arise in the healthcare industry, with an opportunity for innovative and disruptive measures to be taken.
3. Breast Milk Supplementation - A trend towards supplementing breast milk with added nutrients such as leptin to promote healthy growth and development in babies could emerge, creating potential innovation opportunities for the supplement and functional food industries.
Industry Implications
1. Infant Formula - The infant formula industry could potentially incorporate the use of leptin in baby formulas for obesity prevention, disrupting the market and offering a possible solution to childhood obesity.
2. Healthcare - The healthcare industry could potentially explore preventative measures for obesity from birth, creating opportunities for innovative and disruptive measures to be taken.
3. Supplement and Functional Foods - The supplementation of breast milk with leptin or other nutrients could present a disruptive innovation opportunity for the supplement and functional food industries, catering to the increasing demand for healthier and more nutritious products.
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