Relationship between breast-feeding and adiposity in infants and pre-school children

Abstract

Objectives: We aimed to establish associations of duration of breast-feeding with mean BMI and waist circumference, as well as the likelihood of being overweight/obese, during early childhood. Design: Cross-sectional, population-based study. Height, weight and waist circumference were measured and BMI calculated. Interviewer-administered questionnaire determined whether the child was ever breast-fed and the duration of breast-feeding. Setting: Sydney, Australia. Subjects: Infants and pre-school children (n 2092) aged 1-6 years were examined in the Sydney Paediatric Eye Disease Study during [2007][2008][2009]. Results: Of the children aged 1-6 years, 1270 had been breast-fed compared with 822 who were never breast-fed. After multivariable adjustment, 1-6-year-old children who were ever breast-fed compared with those who were not had significantly lower BMI, 16?7 (SE 0?1) kg/m 2 v. 17?1 (SE 0?2) kg/m 2 (P 5 0?01). Decreasing BMI was associated with increasing duration of breast-feeding (P trend 5 0?002). After multivariable adjustment, each month increase in breastfeeding was associated with an average BMI decrease of 0?04 kg/m 2 (P 5 0?002) and 0?03 kg/m 2 (P 5 0?03) among children aged 1-2 years and 3-4 years, respectively. In 1-2-year-old children, each month increase in breast-feeding duration was associated with a 0?06 cm decrease in waist circumference (P 5 0?04). Significant associations were not observed among 5-6-year-old children. Children who were ever breast-fed v. those never breast-fed were less likely to be overweight/obese 95 % CI 0?36, 0?83). Conclusions: We demonstrated a modest influence of breast-feeding on children's BMI during early childhood, particularly among those aged less than 5 years.

Early Life Factors, Obesity Risk, and the Metabolome of Young Adults

“…Some studies have analyzed potential metabolomics markers for obesity in all age groups , but the influence of early life factors on later metabolism has not been well assessed yet. Other studies have considered the effect of breastfeeding on several outcomes in adulthood or childhood , but none to the extent of our study, with more than 1,000 participants at young adulthood and using a metabolomics approach.…”

“…Current evidence suggests that breastfeeding is associated with a reduction in several severe conditions early in life, for example, infections and child mortality . Effects of breastfeeding on BMI have been reported but are inconclusive .…”

Associations Between Breast Milk Feeding, Introduction of Solid Foods, and Weight Gain in the First 12 Months of Life

“…23 Most studies, including one by Gopinath et al, show that breastfeeding duration is the major influential factor on weight gain, and also that the relationship with weight is more pronounced in the first 2 years of life than in later childhood and adulthood. 24 …”

The impact of maternal BMI, gestational weight gain, and breastfeeding on early childhood weight: Analysis of a statewide WIC dataset

“…Known predictors of childhood overweight include: female gender, intrauterine diabetes exposure, large for gestational age at birth, shorter breastfeeding duration, and rapid infant weight gain (Gopinath et al 2012;Goodell et al 2009;Santos et al 2009;Lamb et al 2010). Maternal weight factors, such as pre-pregnancy obesity, as well as gestational weight gain that exceeds recommendations, have also been identified as contributing to childhood obesity (Kaar et al 2014;Tie et al 2014).…”