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Background: Obesity prevalence is significantly higher among Latino boys than girls. Weight status at 12 mo, a significant predictor of childhood obesity, is associated with feeding practices during infancy. Objectives: The objectives were to examine breastfeeding and formula-feeding practices overall and by infant gender and to examine relations among infant gender, milk-feeding practices, and obesity risk among Latino infants over the first year of life. Methods: Latino mother-infant dyads (n = 90) were recruited from a pediatric clinic. Mothers were interviewed at regular intervals (infants aged 2, 4, 6, and 9 mo), and 24-h feeding recalls were conducted when infants were aged 6 and 9 mo. Infants' lengths and weights were retrieved from clinic records to calculate weight-for-length percentiles. A bivariate analysis was conducted to compare feeding practices by gender and mediation analysis to test whether feeding practices mediated the relation between gender and obesity risk. Results: The majority (80%) of mothers were born outside the United States. In early infancy, mixed feeding of formula and breastfeeding was common. At 6 and 9 mo of age, milk-feeding practices differed, with formula feeding more common for boys than girls. At 12 mo, 38% of infants experienced obesity risk (-85th weight-for-length percentile). Infants' obesity risk increased by 18% per 1 oz increase in powdered formula intake. Formula intake among boys was on average 1.42 oz (in dry weight) higher than that among girls, which, in turn, mediated their increased obesity risk (IERR = 1.27, 95% confidence interval: 1.02, 1.90). Conclusions: The increased obesity risk among Latino boys compared with girls at 12 mo was explained by higher rates of formula feeding at 6 and 9 mo of age. Future investigations of cultural values and beliefs in gender-related feeding practices are warranted to understand the differences in obesity risk between Latino boys and girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cross-sectional study was conducted to (1) examine breastfeeding initiation and continuation rates, and; (2) investigate association between food insecurity and breastfeeding status, among low-income mothers. Mothers of infants two-months or younger were recruited from a local pediatric clinic serving primarily low-income families. Upon giving consent, mothers were interviewed in-person or over the phone in either English or Spanish. Of the total 92 mothers interviewed, 90% initiated breastfeeding, but only 24% were doing exclusive breastfeeding at 2 months of infant's age. After controlling for socio-demographics, it was found that food-insecure mothers were less likely to continue with breastfeeding (β = −1.51, p =.024). Future research is warranted to understand pathways through which food insecurity affects breastfeeding and how this disparity can be prevented to ensure a safe and secure start for infants worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women act as gatekeepers in securing water for their households. Using this qualitative methodology, 35 participants were interviewed with the objectives to determine roles and responsibilities of different family members in fetching and managing water and examine differences in perceptions related to water access/use between men and women in households from rural areas of the Menoua Division, West Cameroon. We found that the household structure was key component in each family member's degree of involvement in water fetching and management. A significant gender gap was found among adults with fewer men than women experiencing coping strategies-related to water scarcity. Hence, women participation in designing water and food security initiatives is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Undernutrition among children is a significant issue in rural areas in Cameroon, with diarrhea being one of the major contributing risk factors. To gain a better understanding of the risk factors of diarrhea, the main objective of this epidemiological study was to examine associations between water access and sanitation service with diarrhea, diet diversity, and anemia among infants and toddlers in rural households in Cameroon. The study involved household- and individual-level data of 2,129 rural-dwelling infants and toddlers from the Demographic and Health Survey database. About one-third of infants and toddlers were experiencing diarrhea, with higher odds among those who lived in households with limited water service (p = 0.028). The odds of having diarrhea were 50% higher among infants and toddlers when households did not have sanitation facilities (p=0.007). The lack of improved water and sanitation was also associated with a low intake of various food groups among older infants and toddlers. The prevalence of anemia was high, but no significant differences were seen by water and sanitation services. The achievement of SDG #6 will help address undernutrition and achieve other SDGs, including improving health and wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A scoping review of integrated water access, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) plus nutrition interventions was conducted mainly to describe different components of intervention and examine their effectiveness in improving nutritional outcomes among children. Of the 8 small- to large-scale interventions, 6 were conducted in sub-Saharan Africa and the remaining 2 in South Asia. All the interventions were done in rural settings; the majority involved sanitation and hygiene deliverables along with the nutrition strategies, such as distribution of nutrition supplements. In assessing effectiveness, no significant improvements were seen in growth indicators; reduction in diarrheal rate among children was also not universal across interventions. Further strengthening of WASH, especially an improvement in "W", or water access, is warranted to ensure uptake of sanitation and hygiene behaviors and prevent the fecal–oral route among children. Improved water access will also enhance the effectiveness of nutrition initiatives, such as promoting vegetable gardening and utilization of child nutrient supplements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid weight gain (RWG) in infants increases the risk for obesity later in life. The main goal of the study was to examine prevalence of RWG and its association with feeding practices among low-income infants. Mother-infant dyads (n = 216) were recruited from a pediatric clinic that mainly served Medicaid recipients. Mothers were interviewed and 24-h feeding recalls were conducted at 6 and 9 months of infant's age. Infant's weight and length measurements were retrieved from the clinic's medical records. RWG was defined as a change of more than 0.67 standard deviations in weight-for-age z-score between 6 and 12 months. Utilizing NDSR program, total calorie intake, calories from formula/bottle feeding vs. breastmilk vs. complementary foods, were calculated. Descriptives and bivariate t-test were conducted using SPSS v. 28.0.1.1(15). Of the total participants, 37% and 39% were African American and Latino, respectively. Most (79%) of the participants were receiving WIC. About 39% of infants (n=75) at 9 months were receiving breastmilk (either fully or in addition to formula). About 23% of the infants had RWG between 6 and 12 months. In comparison, significant differences in total calorie and calories from formula were found at 6 and 9 months between those who had RWG versus who did not. For instance, at 6-month, average calorie intake among RWG group was 560.65 (+/- 315.78) vs. no RWG group (392.53 +/- 346.94, p<0.05). In examining the pattern, the frequency of formula intake was significantly higher while number of times breastfed was lower among RWG group compared to their counterparts ie, no RWG. Formula feeding is associated with increased energy intake and RWG in late infancy. Continuation of breastfeeding post 6 months can help reduce the risk for RWG among infants. Nutrition education on formula and related feeding practices is vital in ensuring normal growth rate during infancy. NIH [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introducing complementary foods early during infancy has been associated with an increased risk of overweight later in life, but the pathway is an understudied topic. Hence the study was conducted with low-income and primarily minority mother-infant dyads to: 1) understand how the introduction of complementary foods prior to 4 months was associated with socio-demographic characteristics and food security status; 2) determine the association between early introduction to complementary foods and breastfeeding and adding cereal into the bottle in later infancy (i.e., at 6 and 9 months), and; 3) examine how adding infant cereal into the bottle was related to daily calorie and macronutrient intake in infancy. We conducted interviews with mothers (n = 201) at 4 months of age and 24-h feeding recalls at age 6 and 9 months. Results indicated that 29% of the infants were fed complementary foods before 4 months of age. Introducing complementary foods early was negatively associated with breastfeeding and positively associated with adding cereal into the bottle at 6-months. This practice was more common among those who experienced marginal to very low levels of food security. Comparing by race/ethnicity, Latinx mothers were significantly less likely to introduce solids early. After controlling for sex, infants fed cereal in the bottle were consuming significantly more calories compared to their counterparts. Specifically, adding cereal into the bottle resulted in approximately 10% additional daily calorie intake among infants. Understanding how these feeding practices affect appetite development and weight status during infancy is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted with the Montagnard refugee women (n = 42) to understand their pre-resettlement living conditions and estimate pre- and post-resettlement differences in their intake of major food groups. In-depth interviews were conducted with the participants in their homes by multilingual Montagnard women fluent in English and their tribal languages. Most of the participants did not receive education and 39% reported household incomes of $500 or less per month. Participants had a very limited or no experience in weekly food shopping and budgeting before moving to the United States. In comparison of food habits, intake of different types of meat increased upon resettlement (P < .05). Pre-resettlement food shortage experience and receiving ≥ $500 in SNAP increased the odds of high meat intake. Due to a significant shift in food choices and environment, refugees are at a higher risk of experiencing poor health after moving to the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective: To examine the association between food insecurity, dietary intake, and body mass index among Somali refugee women living in the United States. Methods: Cross-sectional study utilizing the snowball sampling method. Results: Most (67%) participants experienced some level of food insecurity, which was common among recent arrivals and those who spoke only Somali at home (P < .05). Intake of meat and eggs was higher, whereas intake of fruits and vegetables was lower, among food insecure than secure participants. Food insecurity was positively related to overweight and obesity (odds ratio: 2.66; confidence interval: 1.25-5.69; P

A physical activity and nutrition community intervention called the Oxford Hills Healthy Moms (OHHM) Project was developed using a multifaceted social marketing process, including review of state surveillance results, key informant interviews, and a survey and focus group discussions with low-socioeconomic-status (low-SES) mothers. This formative work was used to make key decisions on the selection of the intervention region, segmentation of the audience, and design of intervention strategies addressing multiple levels of the socioecological model. The OHHM Project aims to increase fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity levels among low-SES mothers in the Oxford Hills region of Maine. The OHHM Project includes five components: (a) physical activity buddy program, (b) cooking club with education, (c) fruit and vegetable discount buying club with education, (d) increased access to produce vendors, and (e) increased access to places for physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The primary objectives of the study were to estimate the prevalence of child hunger and its relationship to dietary intake and body mass index (BMI) among Somali refugee children. This article also examined the sociodemographic risk factors of child hunger in Somali households. Somali refugee mothers and children twelve years old or younger (n = 195) were recruited to participate in a cross-sectional survey. During the survey, children's height and weight were measured to calculate BMI while their mothers were interviewed to collect information on sociodemographics, food insecurity, and children's dietary habits. Results indicated that 23 percent of households experienced child hunger. Overall, underweight or BMI < 5th percentile was significantly higher in children who experienced hunger. In terms of dietary intake, compared to food secure or mild to moderate food insecure households, intake of green leafy vegetables was significantly lower (OR: .32; CI: .15-.68; p = .003) while intake of eggs was higher (OR: 23.65; CI: 9.57-58.45; p < .000) among children experiencing hunger. Logistic regression showed that acculturation indicators such as poor English proficiency (OR: 17.76; CI: 1.50-20.14; p = .022) and shorter length of stay in the United States (OR: 3.27; CI: 1.26-8.47; p = .015) increased the likelihood of child hunger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the association of microbial contamination of the meal preparer's hands with microbial status of food and kitchen/utensil surfaces during home preparation of a "Chicken and Salad" meal. Design and Setting: Observational home food safety assessment. Before starting meal preparation, participants' hands were tested to estimate total bacterial and coliform counts and the presence of Camp ylobac(Cr, Salmonella, Listeria, and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Microbiological testing was conducted on samples from kitchen/utensil surfaces, and on food ingredients obtained before and during meal preparation. Participants: Sixty Puerto Rican women residing in inner-city Hartford, CT. Main Outcome Measures: Total bacterial and coliforni counts, and presence of S. aureus in target samples. Analysis: Bivariate tests and multiple logistic regression. Results: Participants considering food safety as "very important" were less likely to test positive for S. aureus on hands (P < .05). S. aureus on post-handling chicken, counter/cutting board, and salad was positively associated with S. aureus on participants' hands (P < .05). Coliform count on the counter/cutting board and sink was significantly higher at baseline when participants' hands tested positive for coliform before starting meal preparation. Conclusions and Implications: Meal preparer's hands can be a vehicle of pathogen transmission during meal preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted to compare and identify the magnitude of differences between self-reported and observed food safety behaviors among women preparing a chicken and salad dish at home. The observed food safety practices also were compared according to sociodemographic variables and prior food safety education. Sixty Puerto Rican women who were the main meal preparers for their households were recruited in Hartford, Conn. Three household visits were made to (i) deliver food ingredients to prepare the chicken and salad meal, (ii) conduct household observation, and (iii) conduct a self-reported survey. The difference between self-reported and observed behaviors varied across food handling and sanitation behaviors. There was a high level of inaccuracy for socially desirable behaviors such as hand washing; the vast majority of participants reported practicing these behaviors but they were not observed doing so. Cutting board washing also was considerably over-reported, questioning the validity of these self-reported data for regression analyses. There was a significant association (P < 0.05) between proper thawing method and prior food safety education, use of cutting board and higher income, and washing tomatoes and having a positive attitude towards food safety. Results revealed that overreporting errors must be considered when analyzing and/or interpreting data derived from self-reported food safety consumer surveys and that food safety education and positive food safety attitudes are associated with recommended food safety behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the coverage and consumer satisfaction with the Fight BAC! campaign and to evaluate the influence of the campaign on food safety knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among a predominantly Latino population living in inner-city Hartford, Connecticut. Design: A cross-sectional pre- and postsurvey was administered to 500 Latino consumers in either English or Spanish. It included 30 food safety-related questions and information on the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of participants. Setting and Participants: Respondents were selected from Latino households, with at least one child 12 years old or under, located in 5 predominantly Latino neighborhoods in inner-city Hartford. Intervention: Fight BAC! media campaign. Results: Seventy-three percent of respondents were exposed to at least one campaign media item and were highly satisfied with it. Recognition of the Fight BAC! logo increased from 10% to 42% between surveys (P < .001). Individuals exposed to the campaign were more likely to have a food safety knowledge score of at least 2 of a possible 4 compared with unexposed counterparts (odds ratio = 3.54; 95% CI 1.747.18; P < .00l). They were also more likely to report defrosting meats in the refrigerator (14% vs 7%; P = .01). There was a dose-response association between the degree of campaign exposure and awareness of the term "cross-contamination." Conclusion and Implications: Social marketing campaigns that take advantage of multiple culturally relevant media channels are likely to improve food safety awareness and bring about changes in food safety knowledge and attitudes among Latino consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To (i) determine differences in the availability of variety of fruits and vegetables (F&V) at home by food security status; and (ii) examine the inter-associations between food security status, availability of variety of F&V at home and frequency of F&V intake, among low-income pregnant women. Design/Setting Participants were interviewed to collect food security status, home availability of variety of F&V and frequency of F&V intake. Bivariate analyses, multivariate regression and exploratory mediation analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics version 23.0 and the PROCESS macro.Subjects: Low-income pregnant women (n 198) were interviewed if they were ≥18 years of age, in the second trimester of pregnancy, and spoke English or Spanish.Results: Low/very low food security was found among 43 % of participants. Compared with fully food-secure participants, very low food-secure participants reported a lower variety of fruits (P=0·028) and vegetables (P=0·058) available at home. Mediation analyses indicated that through home availability of variety of fresh F&V, food security status was associated with the daily intake of F&V (indirect effect (95 % CI): fresh fruits, -0·039 (-0·074, -0·013); fresh vegetables, -0·048 (-0·083, -0·023)). As food security worsened, the available variety of fresh F&V decreased, which was associated with lower intake.Conclusions: The study highlights the interlink between food security, home food environment and diet quality, and the importance of nutrition education intervention to promote a healthy home food environment and improved pregnancy outcomes among low-income women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-income women were interviewed and their post-natal records were retrieved (n= 160) to assess prevalence of excess gestational weight gain and its socio-demographic predictors. More than half of the women (64%) gained excess weight during pregnancy, with an average of 10 lbs in excess of Institute of Medicine guidelines. Logistic regression indicated that women that started pregnancy at an obese body mass index; who were African American or having an unplanned pregnancy were at significant risk of gaining excess weight in pregnancy. Intervention to prevent excess weight gain during pregnancy is critical in addressing obesity epidemic in the United States and worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Water represents the core of food-energy nexus and is vital for human survival. In developing countries, contaminated water and lack of basic water services undermine efforts to improve nutritional status and related health issues. In the rural areas of Central Africa, a majority of the population lacks access to improved water sources and has to devote considerable efforts to obtain water. Objectives: Using the following definition of water insecurity, i.e. it exists when access to adequate amount of safe and clean water does not occur all the times for the entirety of household members to lead a healthy and active life, the study aimed to develop and test a household-level experiential water insecurity scale for rural households in Central Africa. Methods: The research was conducted in three phases: 1) the formative data collection; 2) the scale development; and, 3) the scale testing. In the third Phase, the scale was tested with 250 women who were water managing person of their households. Statistical analysis included items reduction, reliability, as well as criterion and construct validity assessment. The testing led to a final scale of 17 statements (WATINE-17), covering three domains of water insecurity: 1) psychosocial distress; 2) quantity; 3) quality of water. Results: The scale showed an excellent reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.92) and was significantly associated with lower frequency of water intake among women (p = 0.007, concurrent validity). In assessing WATINE-17's predictive validity, it was found that water insecurity was positively related to food insecurity (p < 0.001) and the level of water insecurity was the highest among severely food insecure households [F (3, 246) = 22.469, p < 0.001]. Conclusion: The WATINE-17 is able to capture key elements of water insecurity and can be used to monitor and evaluate SDG# 6 and water-related programs, such as WASH, in Central Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine the relationships among food insecurity, breastfeeding, and other related feeding practices by race/ethnicity among US infants and toddlers. National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 2009–2014, a nationally representative cross-sectional survey. Infants and toddlers aged 0–24 months with complete data on household food security status (n = 2,069). Initiation of breastfeeding (yes or no), duration of breastfeeding, and age of introduction to foods/drinks. Differences in feeding practices by food security status were tested in survey-weighted, stratified multiple regression models. Breastfeeding initiation rates among non-Hispanic whites, Hispanics, and non-Hispanic blacks were estimated at 80.0%, 77.5%, and 57.4%, respectively (P <.001). A total of 43% of infants and toddlers were introduced to foods/drinks before 4 months. After adjusting for household income, education, and other covariates, food insecurity was not a significant predictor of poor feeding behaviors. Racial/ethnic disparities existed, with non-Hispanic black infants at the highest risk for never being breastfed, nor to continue through the recommended period of breastfeeding. Food insecurity was not shown to affect breastfeeding and other infant feeding practices directly. Further investigation is needed to understand whether food insecurity, through stress and other sociostructural pathways, mediates poor infant feeding practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: One of the major federal food assistance programs, the Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), serves approximately 1.5 million low-income pregnant women per year; however, limited information is available on their dietary habits. This is critical because low-income women are at higher risk of gaining excess weight during pregnancy. Thus, the study objectives were to (1) determine the overall diet quality of WIC pregnant women and (2) examine diet quality and eating behaviors by race/ethnicity and other sociodemographics.Design: This was a cross-sectional study.Setting: One of the 3 WIC offices in a north-central county in North Carolina, USA.Sample: Pregnant women (n = 198) in the second trimester.Measures: Interviews included sociodemographics, food security, diet, and eating behaviors. Diet quality was assessed by the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) 2010 scores.Analysis: Descriptives, bivariate analysis, and multivariate analysis.Results: Average participant age was 26 years, and the mean HEI-2010 score was 56 of maximum score of 100. Specifically, African American women consumed significantly lower servings of whole grains (β = -1.71; 95% CI: -3.10 to -0.32; P < .05) and dairy (β = -1.42; 95% CI: -2.51 to -0.33; P < .05) compared with non-Hispanic white women. Hispanic women scored higher in daily intake of fruits (β = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.17-1.79; P < .05) and for consuming empty calories in moderation (β = 1.57; 95% CI: 0.06-3.09; P < .05). Frequency of intake of fast foods/outside meals was higher among African American women (57%, P = .025).Conclusion: Efforts are warranted to promote optimal nutrition among WIC pregnant women. Specifically, African American women are highly vulnerable to poor dietary habits during pregnancy. Further investigation of barriers/facilitators for healthy eating is necessary to address nutrition disparities among WIC pregnant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an exploratory study, a convenience sample of 148 pregnant women was recruited from a WIC clinic in the southeast region of the U.S. to: 1) Examine and compare daily nutrient and food group intakes of WIC pregnant women to national guidelines, and; 2) Determine racial/ethnic differences in nutrient and food group intakes among WIC pregnant women. Women were selected for the study if they were: ≥ 18 y, in 2nd trimester of pregnancy, and if they spoke English or Spanish as a first language. Upon recruitment, participants were interviewed to collect information on their socio-demographics, including race/ethnicity. Additionally, 24-h diet recalls were conducted to collect information on average nutrient and food groups intakes of participants during pregnancy. Of the total participants, more than half self-identified as African American (59%), while the remaining reported being Hispanic (20%) and non-Hispanic White (22%). For nutrient intakes, women consumed folate, iron, and potassium below recommended amounts. In contrast, sodium was consumed above the recommendations for pregnancy. For food groups, intake of fruits and whole grains was limited. In comparison by race/ethnicity, specifically it was found that African American women were consuming higher amounts of carbohydrates, but lower amounts of potassium, vitamin A, and fiber in reference to non-minority group of non-Hispanic Whites. While, Hispanic women were consuming lower amounts of added sugar and animal protein than non-Hispanic Whites. Findings highlight the importance of prenatal nutrition education programs and interventions to improve dietary habits of low-income, racial/ethnic minority women. Inter-racial and ethnic differences exist in dietary intake patterns among low-income pregnant women, with African American women being at an increased risk for poor dietary habits and inability to meet nutrient requirements for pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study planned and implemented a new farmers’ market (FM) at a WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) clinic in North Carolina, of which WIC FM Nutrition Program (FMNP) participants were the main priority population. The purpose of this FM was to provide convenience and improve access to locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables in the community and to increase the FMNP coupon redemption rate. The main objective of this study was to describe the overall process and key strategies involved in implementing a FM at a WIC clinic. A community-based participatory research design using different formative methods documented the process and key inputs in FM implementation. Local farmers, program administrators, and community advocates were involved in documenting the implementation process. Multiple formative methods included direct observation and semistructured interviews with staff and farmers (n = 13). A community partnership was key in implementing the FM. The market operated weekly over the course of 24 weeks, involved 12 WIC-approved farmers, and featured over 50 types of fresh fruits and vegetables. The FMNP coupon redemption rate at the county level increased from 51.3% to 62.9%. The results demonstrate that a FM can be successfully located near a WIC clinic with positive effects of increasing availability to fresh fruits and vegetables for a low-income population and revenue for local farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infant feeding practices are critical in shaping eating habits and predicting weight status later in life. Recommendations discourage adding infant cereal into the bottle. However, there is limited evidence on how this practice contributes to daily calorie intake among infants. Determine the prevalence and sociodemographic characteristics associated with the practice of adding cereal into the bottle, and examine differences in calorie intake among infants who are fed cereal in their bottle and those who are not. Participants were recruited from a pediatric clinic, mainly serving low-income families using in-person recruitment strategy. Interviews and 24-hour infant feeding recalls were conducted in English or Spanish with 249 low-income mothers of 6-month-old infants. Similar to other national surveys, 1 24-h recall was carried out with 83% of mothers confirming that it was typical of infant's day-to-day intake. Socio-demographics, feeding practices (adding cereal into the bottle, breastfeeding, types of other solid foods given), and total calorie and other nutrient intakes such as carbohydrates, proteins, iron, and dietary fiber. Chi-square test and ANOVA were carried out using SPSS v 26.0. Of the total mother-infant dyads, 40% were African American (AA) and 36% were Hispanic. About one-third of the participants reported adding cereal to their infant's bottle. By race/ethnicity, this practice was most common among AA (44%) compared to 15% of White and 8% of Hispanic reporting it (P < 0.001). In comparison, the intake of total calories was higher among infants receiving cereal with the formula in the bottle [F (1, 247) = 23.37, P < 0.001]. Adding cereal in the bottle might increase the risk of rapid weight gain among infants by causing a higher intake of calories. Further examination of how different feeding practices contribute to growth among low-income infants is warranted. NIH [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]