I like the title of this post. This pervasive thinking is so frustrating to me... 
parents being "warned" about "underweight" babies (talking months old now) 
who are feeding happily at-will, being made to feel inadequate and 
being "threatened" about needing formula/solids, or pushed to use these. 
Obviously lack of weight gain and certainly any wasting can indicate bigger 
physiological problems -- but the low weight is a possible SYMPTOM of some 
possible physiological problem, not a CAUSE of any problem. In a very poorly 
nourished mom, we can worry that it is a symptom of certain nutrients 
missing. But aside of weight as a potential symptom, trying to "fatten up" a 
healthy baby because they're behind on some weight chart carries no 
evidence-based theory behind it that I'm aware of, and supplementing formula 
is not going to fix most any of these physiological problems unless it's a breast 
problem.

On the other hand, there is all kinds of evidence that rapid weight gain can be 
a precursor to diabetes and cancer, that early supplementation of formula or 
solids leads to greater morbidity, and that excess weight gain, which can 
result from the taking of excess calories due to the inadequate availability of 
nutrients from formula, or through bottle pushing and the loss of natural 
weight controls, can lead to obesity, which has plenty of sequela of its own. 
When I look for studies on any negative health consequences of being a lower 
weight child, I find studies such as recent:
 Fillol, Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2009 Feb;80(2):202-8, 
that reports that underweight children are at lower risk of malaria (OK, 
wasting in Africa might be another topic, but interesting find).

Still looking for that study on negative EFFECTS of lower weight, even very 
low weight, in a growing child from adequate nutritional resources and no 
threat of famine.

linda palmer, dc

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