Hungry families admit to 'formula stretching'

- Register for Movie Premieres

Hungry families admit to 'formula stretching'

Updated:

HealthMore>>
Flesh-eating bacteria no cause for panic
Flesh-eating bacteria no cause for panic
Despite scary headlines by the score, most people don't have to fear that they'll be the next victim of the so-called flesh-eating bacteria disease, experts say.More >>
Despite scary headlines by the score, most people don't have to fear that they'll be the next victim of the so-called flesh-eating bacteria disease, experts say.More >>
Scientists turn skin cells into cardiac cells to help failing hearts
Scientists turn skin cells into cardiac cells to help failing hearts
In a medical science first, researchers turned skin cells from heart failure patients into heart muscle cells that may then be used to fix damaged cardiac tissue.More >>
In a medical science first, researchers turned skin cells from heart failure patients into heart muscle cells that may then be used to fix damaged cardiac tissue.More >>
Do bald men face higher risk of prostate cancer?
Do bald men face higher risk of prostate cancer?
Got hair? If you don't, you might have a higher risk of prostate cancer, a preliminary study suggests.More >>
Got hair? If you don't, you might have a higher risk of prostate cancer, a preliminary study suggests.More >>
U.S. teens heading for heart trouble
U.S. teens heading for heart trouble
Many American teenagers, including some with a normal, healthy weight, already have one or more risk factors for heart disease, researchers say.More >>
Many American teenagers, including some with a normal, healthy weight, already have one or more risk factors for heart disease, researchers say.More >>
Drowning is leading cause of kids' accidental death
Drowning is leading cause of kids' accidental death
Drowning kills more American children 1 to 4 years old than any cause except birth defects, according to a new federal report.More >>
Drowning kills more American children 1 to 4 years old than any cause except birth defects, according to a new federal report.More >>
Germs lurk in office kitchens, break rooms
Germs lurk in office kitchens, break rooms
Office kitchens and break rooms are germ "hotspots," and sink and microwave handles in these areas are the dirtiest surfaces touched by office workers on a daily basis.More >>
Office kitchens and break rooms are germ "hotspots," and sink and microwave handles in these areas are the dirtiest surfaces touched by office workers on a daily basis, according to a new study.More >>
Body building, diet supplements linked to liver damage
Body building, diet supplements linked to liver damage
Body-building and weight-loss products are the types of dietary supplements most likely to cause liver injury, according to a small new study.More >>
Body-building and weight-loss products are the types of dietary supplements most likely to cause liver injury, according to a small new study.More >>
Teens' love of loud music tied to drinking, drug abuse
Teens' love of loud music tied to drinking, drug abuse
In a new study, teens who loved listening to music blasting at high decibels on their MP3 players were also more likely than others to smoke marijuana.More >>
In a new study, teens who loved listening to music blasting at high decibels on their MP3 players were also more likely than others to smoke marijuana.More >>
8 all-natural allergy remedies
8 all-natural allergy remedies
In addition to over-the-counter and prescription medications, there are a few additional moves that can help ease the sniffles, sneezes and watery eyes of seasonal allergies.More >>
In addition to over-the-counter and prescription medications, there are a few additional moves that can help ease the sniffles, sneezes and watery eyes of seasonal allergies.More >>
Possible link between certain sunscreens, endometriosis
Possible link between certain sunscreens, endometriosis
A preliminary study links chemicals found in certain sunscreens to a higher risk of endometriosis.More >>
A preliminary study links chemicals found in certain sunscreens to a higher risk of endometriosis, but it's too soon to say whether there's any reason for women to change their habits.More >>

THURSDAY, Jan. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Some families that can't afford enough infant formula resort to risky "formula stretching," watering down infant formula or skipping feedings, researchers say.

This can have significant health consequences on an infant's developing brain, increasing the risk for learning, behavioral and psychological problems, according to two new studies from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

In one study, the researchers studied families treated at two pediatric clinics in Cincinnati that see about 45,000 patients from underserved neighborhoods each year. Despite receiving public assistance, about 30 percent of these families could not afford to meet their basic nutritional needs.

"We were surprised to find one in three families worried about putting food on the table," said study co-author Dr. Andrew Beck, a general pediatrician, in a hospital news release.

The inability to pay for enough food to satisfy basic nutritional needs is called food insecurity. "Food insecurity tends to be an invisible problem, forcing families to make difficult choices between nutrition and other essential needs," Beck said.

The researchers said better screening methods are needed to identify families without enough to eat, they said.

The study was recently published online in Clinical Pediatrics.

In 2009, the federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), which provides basic nutrition for low-income women with children, decreased the amount of formula it provides to infants older than 6 months. The researchers revealed that two-thirds of the families in the Cincinnati clinics supported by WIC said they often do not receive a full month's supply of formula.

Of the families who cannot meet their basic nutritional needs, 27 percent admitted to watering down formula or reducing feedings, the study found.

"We're seeing the effects of those changes in our urban clinics, highlighting that WIC is truly a supplemental program," said study lead author Dr. Mary Carol Burkhardt in the news release. "I would venture to say that cities with similar demographics and poverty levels are seeing some of the same behaviors found in our study."

A separate study by these researchers published Jan. 16 in Pediatrics found that routine screenings by pediatric residents were not identifying the families unable to meet their nutritional needs.

Residents only recognized the problem in 2 percent of cases, while preliminary research showed that nearly one-third of families seen at the urban clinics did not have enough to eat.

"Families are sometimes reluctant to report food insecurity because of the stigma," said study co-author Dr. Robert Kahn in the hospital news release. "We made a number of improvements, including training our pediatric residents to ask about hunger issues in a more sensitive manner."

The ability of doctors to identify hungry families jumped to 11 percent following the training program, Kahn's team noted.

More information

The American Academy of Pediatrics provides more information on infant feeding and nutrition.

*DISCLAIMER*: The information contained in or provided through this site section is intended for general consumer understanding and education only and is not intended to be and is not a substitute for professional advice. Use of this site section and any information contained on or provided through this site section is at your own risk and any information contained on or provided through this site section is provided on an "as is" basis without any representations or warranties.

THE KXVO CW15 OMAHA ENTERTAINMENT NEWS | Hungry families admit to 'formula stretching'

Hungry families admit to 'formula stretching'

HealthMore>>