Insights from the ToMI Study: Early dietary protein and its role in obesity prevention

Early childhood is a critical period for growth and metabolic programming, with long-term implications for health. Rapid weight gain in infancy and toddlerhood is a well-established predictor of later obesity and metabolic disorders. Observational studies and clinical trials have shown that excessive protein intake in early life—particularly from animal sources—can accelerate growth and increase fat mass accumulation. This phenomenon is explained by the “early protein hypothesis,” which suggests that high protein intake stimulates insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), promoting fat acumulation [1]. In this context, the Toddler Milk Intervention (ToMI) study was designed to explore whether modifying milk protein intake during the second year of life can influence growth patterns and reduce the risk of latter childhood obesity.