Cross-sectional study on the weight and length of infants in the interior of the State of São Paulo, Brazil: associations with sociodemographic variables and breastfeeding

Abstract

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Increasing obesity is starting to occur among Brazilians. The aim of this study was to investigate the weight and length of children under two years of age in relation to sociodemographic variables and according to whether they were breastfed. DESIGN AND SETTING:Cross-sectional randomized study conducted in [2004][2005], based on the declaration of live births (SINASC) in Campinas, Brazil.METHODS: 2,857 mothers of newborns were interviewed and answered a questionnaire seeking socioeconomic and breastfeeding information. The newborns' weights and lengths were measured at the end of the interviews and the body mass index was calculated. Percentiles (< 15 and > 85) and Z-scores (< -1 and > +1) were used for classification based on the new growth charts recommended by WHO (2006). The log-rank test, multiple linear regression and binomial test (Z) were used. The statistical significance level used was 5%. RESULTS:The predominant social level was class C. The median for exclusive breastfeeding was 90 days; 61.25% of the children were between P15 and P85 for body mass index and 61.12% for length, respectively. Children whose mothers studied for nine to eleven years and children whose mothers were unemployed presented lower weight. Children whose mothers worked in health-related professions presented lower length when correlated with breastfeeding. CONCLUSION:The breastfeeding, maternal schooling and maternal occupation levels had an influence on nutrition status and indicated that obesity is occurring in early childhood among the infants living in the municipality. RESULTADOS: O nível social predominante foi classe C. A mediana do aleitamento materno exclusivo foi de 90 dias. 61,25% das crianças estavam entre os percentis P15-P85 para índice de massa corporal e 61,12% para comprimento, respectivamente. Nas crianças cuja mãe estudou entre 9 e 11 anos o peso foi menor, bem como para os filhos de mães desempregadas. Filhos de mães com profissões na área da saúde apresentaram menor comprimento, quando correlacionados ao aleitamento.CONCLUSÃO: Os níveis encontrados para aleitamento, escolaridade e profissão maternas exerceram influência sobre o estado de nutrição, indicando que a obesidade está acontecendo precocemente na infância nos lactentes do município.

Duration of breast-feeding and cardiovascular risk factors among Iranian children and adolescents: The CASPIAN III study

“…Compared with some studies reporting that children with late initiation of complementary feeding have lower rates of obesity [35,36], recent investigation in 15 to 41 y old individuals from five lowand middle-income countries did not document significant correlation between long-term BF duration and lower risks for CVD, including high BP, diabetes, and obesity in this population [13]. Furthermore, maybe early initiation of complementary feeding has positively correlated with risk for diseases [37]. According to our knowledge, there is no national report with such a large sample size among children and adolescents living in the pediatric population of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) on the relationship between BF duration and CVD risk factors.…”