Expert Answers: Fat fear of that bedtime drink

Parents who allow toddlers to have a bottle of milk before they get into bed could be putting their health at risk, researchers have found.

Experts in the United States found that regularly feeding a two-year-old with milk makes the child 30 per cent more likely to be obese by the time they are aged five-and-a-half.

The study, published in the journal, Paediatrics, showed that an 8oz bottle of full-fat milk contains 150 calories, which is 12 per cent of the daily energy intake for a child aged between one and two.

Almost a quarter (22.9 per cent) of babies given a bottle were overweight by the time they became toddlers, compared with just 16 per cent among children who were not fed milk at bedtime.

Experts from Northwestern Medicine recently found that adults who stay up late eat an average of 248 more calories than those who head to bed at a more sensible time.

American scientists assessed almost 7,000 children at regular intervals when they were nine months old, two, four-and-a-half and five-and-a-half.

Nearly one in 10 children are obese when they start primary school and a fifth are obese by the time they leave aged 11, according to the most recent NHS figures.

Dr Robert Whitaker, from Temple University, said: “Children who were still using a bottle at 24 months were approximately 30 per cent more likely to be obese at 5.5 years, even after accounting for other factors such as mother’s weight, the child’s birth weight and feeding practices during infancy.”

The authors believe that “drinking from a bottle beyond infancy may contribute to obesity by encouraging the child to consume too many calories”.

By giving it to them at bedtime it acts a comforter to settle them, rather because of any nutritional value. They state that children should be weaned off milk from the age of one, with the help of doctors, midwives and health visitors.

The consensus of opinion among nutritionists seems to be that up to the age of two years, full-fat milk is very good for young children. It contains essential nutrients including protein, calcium, magnesium and vitamins.

The recommended daily requirement for children at this stage seems to be about 2/3 of a pint of milk.

It would seem that semi-skimmed milk (at this stage) is not such a good alternative because the vitamin content is reduced.

However, over the age of two, semi-skimmed milk is seen as a good alternative by many as any benefit from full-fat milk is reduced.

the role of milk in growing up

Milk and dairy foods are an important source of calcium. Your child should be having the equivalent of about one pint (500 to 600ml) of milk a day.

From the age of one, normal cows’ milk is fine, and you don’t need to use formula.

Use full-fat varieties for the under-twos; semi-skimmed may be given from the age of two if the overall diet contains enough energy and nutrients.

Milk can be used on cereals or in drinks, puddings and sauces, and cheese, fromage frais or yoghurt can be given instead of some milk.

Paul Charlson, GP from Brough

I don’t think there is a particular time of day when eating is likely to cause obesity nor is full-fat milk a bad thing for children to drink. Milk is a good source of nutrition which is obviously why natural selection created it. Obesity is caused by eating more calories than you burn.

The key is a healthy diet containing nutritional value foods and exercise. If you are concerned speak to your health visitor for some advice.

The easiest way to check your child’s progress is to obtain a centile chart which should be in the book you were given when you delivered, and plot your child’s weight on that; if they continue to gain weight along the centile line, that is fine; if they are upwardly crossing lines over time they may be gaining weight too fast.

Elaine Douglas: A chartered psychologist who specialises in family and child relationships

I have to say that this isn’t an area that i am completely familiar with. I haven’t come across any research that suggests that continuing with full-fat milk is detrimental, or that it can lead to obesity. However, it would seem that after the age of two, the benefits are reduced. In other words, if you are at all worried, then using semi-skimmed is probably going to be a better alternative.

If you are at all worried, you should consult your gp and ask for advice. Every child is different and there are so many factors to be taken into consideration, including where your child is in terms of “average” height and weight and any family genetic considerations.

The second thing is that you may need to look at this from a holistic perspective. In other words, you should look at your child and your family’s diet in its entirety. I don’t think it’s rocket science to think about what we need in terms of our food intake to be healthy.

Make sure that your child eats well – without too much reliance on carbohydrates and fats – and gets exercise on a regular basis.

DR CAROL BURNISTON: CONSULTANT CLINICAL CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST

Milk is a healthy and sustaining substance containing vitamins and minerals essential to young children’s growth. As with most things, it is a balanced view which is helpful here.

Becoming overweight or obese results from consuming too many calories and taking too little exercise, and it is important to ensure that your child receives a balanced diet and plenty of opportunities to be active.

If you make sure that your child has three balanced meals a day and healthy snacks, they are not likely to become obese by drinking milk. The benefits of a glass of milk at bedtime can help them sleep through the night. It is the overall intake which is most important.

If in future you become concerned about any weight gain, check that they are not eating things you are unaware of and consider changing to semi-skimmed milk which has the same health benefits but with less fat.

CARY COOPER:PROFESSOR OF ORGANISATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY AND HEALTH AT LANCASTER UNIVERSITY

I am not a medic or a nutritionist but i can’t believe that too much milk for a young child could be detrimental, unless the evidence conclusively says otherwise.

This is not a complicated problem to worry about, i am sure your gp or practice nurse will have the reason to this one but you might want to try some nhs websites as well.

At worst, i suspect it might mean semi-skimmed milk, which many adults now consume.