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Pregnancy and Birth to 24 Months Systematic Review

Systematic Review Question

What is the relationship between types and amounts of complementary foods and beverages and growth, size, and body composition?

Conclusion Statement

•Moderate evidence indicates that higher versus lower meat intake or meat versus iron-fortified cereal intake over a short duration (~3mo) during the complementary feeding period does not favorably or unfavorably influence growth, size, and/or body composition. There is insufficient evidence to determine a relationship between meat intake and prevalence/incidence of overweight or obesity. 

•Limited evidence suggests that type or amount of cereal given does not favorably or unfavorably influence growth, size, body composition, and/or prevalence/incidence of overweight or obesity. 

•Moderate evidence suggests that consumption of complementary foods with different fats and/or fatty acid composition does not favorably or unfavorably influence growth, size, or body composition. There is not enough evidence to determine a relationship between consumption of complementary foods with different fats and/or fatty acid composition and/or prevalence/incidence of overweight or obesity.

•Limited evidence suggests that sugar sweetened beverage consumption during the complementary feeding period is associated with increased risk of obesity in childhood, but is not associated with other measures of growth, size, and body composition. 

•Limited evidence showed a positive association between juice intake and infant weight-for-length and child BMI z-scores.

•No conclusion could be made about the relationship between other complementary foods (vegetables, fruit, dairy products and/or cow’s milk, cereal-based products, milk-cereal drink, and/or categories such as “ready-made foods“) and growth, size, body composition, and/or prevalence/incidence of overweight or obesity.

•No conclusion could be made about the relationship between distinct dietary patterns during the complementary feeding period and growth, size, body composition, and/or prevalence/incidence of malnutrition, overweight or obesity. 

Grades: Moderate - Meat; Different Fats and/or Fatty Acid Composition; Limited - Juice; Sugar-Sweetened Beverages; Grade Not Assignable - Cereal; Other CFB; Dietary Patterns