IMPACT OF INFANT FEEDING TYPE ON WEIGHT GAIN DYNAMICS AND RISK OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY

Background: Rapid infant weight gain is recognized as an important predictor of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Objective: To assess the influence of feeding type on weight gain dynamics and obesity risk among children. Methods: A longitudinal observational study involving 124 children was conducted. Participants were grouped according to feeding practices during infancy. Results: Artificially fed children demonstrated significantly faster weight gain during early infancy compared with breastfed children. Accelerated growth was accompanied by unfavorable lipid profile changes. Conclusion: Formula feeding is associated with increased obesity risk and adverse metabolic outcomes.