Risk of Overweight Among Adolescents Who Were Breastfed as Infants

Abstract

Infants who were fed breast milk more than infant formula, or who were breastfed for longer periods, had a lower risk of being overweight during older childhood and adolescence.

Infant feeding practices and prevalence of obesity in eight European countries – the IDEFICS study

“…Our results demonstrate that exclusive breast-feeding for 4–6 months is protective of childhood overweight. This finding is consistent with other studies that have concluded breast-feeding is protective against paediatric overweight ( 6 , 8 – 10 , 31 ) . However, we did not find the dose–response relationship that has been previously reported ( 6 , 31 ) but instead found a reverse J-shaped response.…”

The Effect of Breast‐Feeding with and without Formula Use on the Risk of Obesity at 4 Years of Age

“…Although other studies have collected data on formula use, none have used these data to address the question of whether the concurrent use of formula, at any given duration of breast-feeding, minimizes the protective effect of breast-feeding on later obesity. Consistent with our findings, Gillman et al have shown that children who were both breast-and formula-fed, but predominately formula-fed, tended to have a higher prevalence of obesity than those only or predominately breast-fed (8).…”

Breastfeeding and Overweight: Longitudinal Analysis in an Australian Birth Cohort

“…In the United States, maternal BMI was the variable that most influenced overweight and obesity among 3-to 6-year-olds, 4 whereas adjustment for maternal BMI attenuated the relationship between breastfeeding and overweight in adolescents. 3 We found a shorter duration of breastfeeding among overweight or obese mothers, consistent with other reports. 10 Lower rates and duration of breastfeeding also are associated with lower socioeconomic status, 7,9 a factor related to overweight and obesity, 15 and to adverse health behaviors.…”