The growth of childhood obesity in recent years has been a major concern for society and the government. Studies show that shorter duration of breastfeeding and early introduction of solid foods or formulas before 5 months of age have been associated with faster rate of weight gain. This review analyzes, in recent literature, the impact of early weaning on the development of childhood obesity. The results showed an association between breastfeeding duration and exogenous factors such as physical activity, eating habits, area of origin, and obese family members on the nutritional status of the child. It can be concluded from the analyzed studies that the early abandonment of breastfeeding can corroborate the development of childhood obesity (p<0.05). Only 1 article showed no statistical relevance between early weaning and development of childhood overweight. According to the evaluation of methodological quality based on the GRADE system, the articles found were found to be weak, thus indicating the need for more observational studies with greater accuracy and reduction of methodological flaws.
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