I've been following the discussion about the study from India in which the WHO
recommendations for exclusive BF for 6 months are called into question.  I
have not read the original article yet.
If I remember correctly, the WHO group who made the recommendation, did so
because the effect of exclusive BF with regard to infections in the first year
of life outweighed the possible negative effects on growth rate.  They also
mentioned the need for appropriate weaning foods to be available everywhere.
According to what has been quoted on LN, the stunted children were less likely
to have completed a routine immunization program, which could indicate that
they differ from the larger children in their access to health services.
There has also been put forth a theory that mothers are more likely to
continue breastfeeding a child who is not growing fast, because they perceive
the child to be weaker and more in need of mother's milk.  In other words,
grossly simplified, slow growth CAUSES longer breastfeeding and not the other
way around.
A height more than two standard deviations below average is a measurement
that, IMO, should get some attention.  Assuming that the average is one
derived from the population in question, this would identify babies below the
lowest 5th percentile.  Since infections and other illnesses can affect
growth, the smallest children in any population deserve to be examined to rule
out such things, or to treat them where they exist.
All that aside, there is every reason to be highly sceptical to anything that
would further accelerate the rate at which babies in India grow, without
considering the long term effects.  It is expected that the number of
diabetics in India will triple from its already high level, in the next couple
of decades.  It seems that populations who make a rapid transition from high
levels of physical activity and low caloric intake to more sedentary living
and high calorie diets, are particularly sensitive to increased body mass, and
their insulin sensitivity falls dramatically with higher weights.  Bigger is
not better in every case.  I will be very interested to know the relationship
between the infant formula industry, the pharmaceutical industry (esp. those
firms producing medication for diabetics) and the researchers in this study.
Rachel Myr
Kristiansand, Norway

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