| ■ Overweight Kids Prone to Iron Deficiency | 2007.09.07 |
| Overweight toddlers, especially those of Hispanic origin, seem to be more prone to iron deficiency, new research concludes. Twenty percent of children ages 1 to 3 years are iron deficient, compared with 7 percent of toddlers of normal weight, scientists at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center said. Low blood iron levels reduce the amount of oxygen carried through the body, leading to mental and behavioral delays, the Associated Press reported. Experts advised that toddlers should eat iron-rich foods including meats, beans, eggs, spinach, and fortified breads, the wire service said. Those who are still fed from bottles tend to drink low-iron milk and juice at the expense of eating sold foods, said study co-author Jane Brotanek. "What you put in your baby's bottle can affect your child's future," she said. Hispanic toddlers are more likely than those who are white or black to be obese, which could explain their increased tendency to be iron deficient, Brotanek said. Twelve percent of Hispanic toddlers were iron deficient, compared to 6 percent of whites and 6 percent of blacks, the AP reported. The research is published in this month's issue of the journal Pediatrics. |