According a new study waiting longer to start babies on solid food could make for slimmer adults.

Usually delayed introduction of complementary 'baby' foods are associated with extended breastfeeding and it is possible that this might influence weight.

To investigate this possibility, a team of Danish researchers led by Kim Fleischer Michaelsen investigated these factors in a group of individuals who were studied from birth until adulthood.

It was further found that neither breastfeeding duration nor timing of complementary foods was related significantly to BMI in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood.

With increasing age at introduction of complementary foods, however, at 42 years of age the risk of being overweight decreased.

For instance, for each month introduction of vegetables was delayed, the risk of being overweight at 42 years of age was reduced by 10 percent.

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has published these findings in the March 2010 issue. (With Input from Agencies)