Associations between Infant Feeding Practice Prior to Six Months and Body Mass Index at Six Years of Age

Abstract

Rapid growth during infancy is associated with increased risk of overweight and obesity and differences in weight gain are at least partly explained by means of infant feeding. The aim was to assess the associations between infant feeding practice in early infancy and body mass index (BMI) at 6 years of age. Icelandic infants (n = 154) were prospectively followed from birth to 12 months and again at age 6 years. Birth weight and length were gathered from maternity wards, and healthcare centers provided the measurements made during infancy up to 18 months of age. Information on breastfeeding practices was documented 0–12 months and a 24-h dietary record was collected at 5 months. Changes in infant weight gain were calculated from birth to 18 months. Linear regression analyses were performed to examine associations between infant feeding practice at 5 months and body mass index (BMI) at 6 years. Infants who were formula-fed at 5 months of age grew faster, particularly between 2 and 6 months, compared to exclusively breastfed infants. At age 6 years, BMI was on average 1.1 kg/m2 (95% CI 0.2, 2.0) higher among infants who were formula fed and also receiving solid foods at 5 months of age compared to those exclusively breastfed. In a high-income country such as Iceland, early introduction of solid foods seems to further increase the risk of high childhood BMI among formula fed infants compared with exclusively breastfed infants, although further studies with greater power are needed.

Skin‐to‐skin contact is associated with earlier breastfeeding attainment in preterm infants

“…In a study by Imai et al , formula‐fed term infants had more rapid growth than breastfed infants. Formula feeding in preterm infants has also been associated with increased short‐term growth and a higher risk of necrotising enterocolitis .…”

Infant feeding practice on growth velocity in 4-6 month-olds

“…Head circumference has been used as the second indicator, while the body length is Formula and complementary food (n=10) 0 9 (90) 1 (10) MPASI= makanan pendamping ASI = complementary food useful for detection of stunting, because its usefulness over a longer period of time. 17 Changes of less than 5 th percentile or less than -2 SD are interpreted as a failure to thrive. Changes in body weight can be seen in growth velocity or growth increment tables with intervals of 1-6 months.…”

Lactancia materna, obesidad y síndrome metabólico en la edad escolar

“…Sin embargo, el efecto fue inverso para aquellos amamantados por mayor tiempo; pensamos que este efecto paradojal podría explicarse porque después de la introducción de la alimentación complementaria a los 6 meses, pueden agregarse otros factores de riesgo de obesidad como son: el inicio de fórmulas lácteas hipercalóricas, mayor ingesta proteica, de sodio, bebidas azucaradas y/o jugos, así como la incorporación a hábitos familiares menos saludables. En la literatura, la evidencia con respecto al efecto de la duración es discordante: si bien se ha encontrado un mayor beneficio de la LM que se prolonga más allá de los 6 meses y hasta los dos años [39][40] , también se ha planteado que la LM, aún por tiempo breve, es eficaz en prevenir la obesidad 41 . Otros reportan un efecto protector con LME de 4-6 meses o LM por más de 12 meses 42 y recientemente, dos revisiones sistemáticas demostraron que la LM disminuye en 15% el riesgo de sobrepeso en niños que la han recibido alguna vez en comparación a niños no amamantados, con efecto protector si la recibieron por más de 7 meses 43 .…”