International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-780210122020031521982198ENDepartment of Nutrition, Yasuj School of Health, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, YasujDepartment of Nutrition, Yasuj School of Health, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, YasujDepartment of Nutrition, Yasuj School of Health, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, YasujDepartment of Nutrition, Yasuj School of Health, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, YasujDepartment of Nutrition, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak20200315<p><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Background</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">Formula milk is prepared as a nutritional substitution for human breast milk, but<br />because of biologic and constituent differences, it might cause obesity and growth disorders in<br />infants. In this study, we compared the growth pattern of formula‑fed and breastfed infants living in<br />Yasuj, southwest of Iran. </span></p><p><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Methods</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">Infants 7–14 months of age in southwest of Iran were classified<br />as exclusively breastfed (</span><span class="fontstyle3">n </span><span class="fontstyle2">= 200) and formula‑fed (</span><span class="fontstyle3">n </span><span class="fontstyle2">= 200) in their first 6 months of life. Growth<br />velocity and </span><span class="fontstyle3">Z</span><span class="fontstyle2">‑scores of weight for age, length for age, weight for length, and head circumference<br />were estimated using WHO Anthro Plus software (2010) and SPSS Version 19 (SPSS Inc., Chicago,<br />IL, USA) using World Health Organization reference for growth data. </span></p><p><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Results</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">The study showed<br />that </span><span class="fontstyle3">Z</span><span class="fontstyle2">‑score of length for age and head circumference for age at the birth were significantly lower in<br />formula‑fed group than exclusively breastfed group (</span><span class="fontstyle3">P </span><span class="fontstyle2">&lt; 0.05), but the </span><span class="fontstyle3">Z</span><span class="fontstyle2">‑score of weight for length<br />did not differ significantly. At the sixth month of age, </span><span class="fontstyle3">Z</span><span class="fontstyle2">‑score of weight for length was significantly<br />higher in formula‑fed group (</span><span class="fontstyle3">P </span><span class="fontstyle2">&lt; 0.05), but </span><span class="fontstyle3">Z</span><span class="fontstyle2">‑score of length for age had no significant difference<br />and </span><span class="fontstyle3">Z</span><span class="fontstyle2">‑score of head circumference was higher in exclusively breastfed group yet (</span><span class="fontstyle3">P </span><span class="fontstyle2">&lt; 0.05). Growth<br />velocity, prevalence of obesity, wasting, underweight, and stunting did not differ between two groups.<br /></span><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Conclusions</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">Our findings suggest that formula feeding can lead to greater weight gain and may<br />help the catch up of length, but evidences are not convincing enough to suggest the formula as an<br />obesogenic feeding in the studied area. To make a conclusion, we suggest comparing the privileged<br />and unprivileged areas and controlling for confounding variables including family hygiene and infant<br />feeding practices between formula‑fed and breastfed infants.<br /></span><span class="fontstyle0" style="color: #00652e;"><strong>Keywords</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle3">Breastfeeding, formula feeding, growth velocity</span></p>http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/2198http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/2198/717717997