Early life growth trajectories and body composition development have lasting effects and predict later life health outcome. Breastfed infants have the best start in life in terms of growth quality and metabolic development by providing a healthy metabolic set point to promote the optimal balance of energy use and energy storage. Breastfeeding has been association with a protective effect against later life obesity and NCDs. Macronutrient quality and quantity of breastmilk is unique and changes over time to meet the growth demands of infants (e.g. lipids provide +/-50% of the infant's energy requirement). Compared to breastmilk, standard infant formula shows differences in overall fatty acid composition, structure of triglycerides, lipid composition, as well as physical properties of its lipid droplets. This is likely to affect lipid digestion and absorption in infants and may partially explain the difference in growth and body composition development between breast- and formula fed infants and the subsequent differences in risk for metabolic health complications or disorders in later life.