Early Life Nutrition and Lifelong Health - Derbyshire Local Medical ...

BMA Board of ScienceKey messageIn comparison with milk feeding, less attention has been given to the introduction ofnutritious weaning foods. It is known that the quality of the weaning diet for UK infants isstrongly influenced by the socio-economic status and educational attainment of the mother.Figure 10: 12-month ‘infant guidelines’ pattern score according to prudent diet score ofthe mother1P – 1Mothers prudent diet scoreSource: Robinson S, Marriott L, Poole J et al (2007) Dietary patterns in infancy: the importance of maternal andfamily influences on feeding practice. British Journal of Nutrition 98: 1029-37.Children’s diets and food preferences have been shown to be influenced by their foodenvironment, and by the eating behaviours of their parents. 140-142 The SWS provided evidence thatinfluences of the food environment on children’s diet operate very early – as soon as infants startto eat solid food. The findings also suggest that interventions to change mothers’ diets will havedirect consequences for the diets of their children.Key messageInfluences of the food environment – including maternal diet – operate very early on children’sdiets, from weaning onwards. Interventions to change mothers’ diets will have directconsequences for the diets of their children.Early life nutrition and lifelong health 33