Correlation between birth weight, breastfeeding and body mass index at six years of age

Abstract

Objectives: to estimate the correlation between birth weight, breastfeeding, and body mass index in six-year-old children in the city of Palhoça/SC, Brazil. Methods: a cross-sectional study involving 502 children. Data were collected through interviews with mothers at home and anthropometric assessments at schools. The child’s current body mass index was the dependent variable. The independent variables were birth weight, breastfeeding duration, and exclusive breastfeeding duration. Correlations among variables were estimated using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and respective coefficients of determination. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to observe the independence among the variables. Results: birth weight and body mass index at six years of age showed a statistically significant positive correlation (r= 0.115; p=0.008). Breastfeeding duration was not correlated (r= -0.018; p=0.683). The duration of exclusive breastfeeding showed a statistically significant negative correlation (r= -0.103; p=0.018). However, multiple linear regression analysis showed an independent and significant positive correlation only between birth weight and body mass index at six years of age (r= 0.142; p= 0.003). Conclusion: higher birth weight was significantly and independently positively correlated with increased body mass index at six years of age.