Premature baby needs 3,000 calories a day

A baby girl who was delivered three months prematurely is on a diet of 3,000 calories a day. Agatha Holloway's calorie-rich diet is intended to help her reach a healthy weight for her age. The youngster had numerous health problems when she was born on New Year's Eve 2007 and weighed just three pounds and 11 ounces. Now 16 months old, she is still six pounds underweight. Her mother Samantha feeds her food such as hummus, porridge with clotted cream, bagels with full fat cheese and high-fat roast meat such as duck and lamb on the advice of a nutritionist.

She explained that following the various health complications Agatha faced, including a brain haemorrhage, an immature gut and an open heart valve she needs her special diet to "help her grow".

Mrs Holloway said: "Agatha needs foods with a high fat and protein content to help her grow.

"I hate having to give Agatha chocolate puddings while her friends are having healthy fruit, but it's what we have to do."

She went on to say that doctors have explained Agatha will not suffer any long-term side effects from her diet and will be able to eat healthily when she is older.