Objective The research sought to determine the reliability of assessing adolescents’ weight status based on three standard criteria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) growth charts, International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) standards, and the World Health Organization (WHO) growth references. Methods Data from the NEXT Generation Health Study US 10th grade cohort (n=2323, mean age=16.19 years) starting in 2009 were used. Kappa statistics assessed agreement of assignment to weight categories. Associations of weight status with perceived body image, weight control intention, and general health were examined using linear regressions accounting for complex survey design. Results Kappas across weight status criteria were ≥ .89 and agreement exceeded 90% in all analyses. For all three criteria, overweight and obese participants, compared to normal weight, were significantly more likely to indicate fatter body image, higher weight control intention, and poorer general health; small differences in the regression coefficients by classification method were observed. Conclusion The three criteria of weight status classifications substantially agreed. Associations of weight status with selected health correlates were similar regardless of the methods. Thus, the three classifications can be considered comparable for most research and practice purposes.

In conclusion, overweight/obese mothers not only fall short of clinical practice guidelines in regards to breastfeeding, but also are more likely to initiate early introduction (<4 months infant age) to solid foods compared to their normal BMI counterparts. Interventions should be targeted to this group.

Background: We compared early breastfeeding practices, including initiation, exclusivity, and intensity among women who had an unplanned caesarean section (c-section), a planned c-section, vaginal induced delivery, and a vaginally but not induced delivery. Methods:This was a retrospective study involving secondary data analysis using the Infant Feeding Practices Study II, a longitudinal national survey, which followed women from pregnancy to 1 year postpartum. Data were obtained from the prenatal, neonatal and 2-month surveys for 2541 mothers and their infants. Descriptive statistics and chisquare analysis were conducted to identify any associations between mode of delivery and maternal characteristics, breastfeeding patterns in the first two months of infancy, prenatal breastfeeding attitudes, sources of breastfeeding information and reasons for not initiating breastfeeding. Results:Women with a planned c-section had a significantly lower breastfeeding initiation rate (80%). Further, they were least likely to report a clinician's support for breastfeeding (40.2%) and more likely to disagree with benefits of breastfeeding (26.3%). Those with vaginally non-induced deliveries were least likely to receive breastfeeding information during the postpartum period from lactation consultants (56.5%), while women who had a planned c-section were less likely to receive breastfeeding information from relatives/ friends (48.9%). Conclusion:Findings suggest that breastfeeding practices vary considerably by mode of delivery and this should be taken into consideration when offering lactation services and information to women. Women may need encouragement from family members and clinicians in initiating breastfeeding as well as adequate breastfeeding support through month 2 postpartum.