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Does maternal obesity adversely affect breastfeeding initiation and duration?
1Key Centre for Women's Health, University of Melbourne, 720 Swanston Street, Carlton, VIC 3053, Australia. s.donath@kcwh.unimelb.edu.au
Breastfeeding Review : Professional Publication of the Nursing Mothers' Association of Australia
|February 24, 2001
Summary
Obese mothers are less likely to initiate and continue breastfeeding compared to non-obese mothers. This highlights a need for targeted support for breastfeeding in obese women.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Maternal Health
- Nutrition Science
Background:
- Maternal obesity is a growing global health concern.
- Breastfeeding offers significant health benefits for both mother and child.
- Understanding factors influencing breastfeeding practices is crucial for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal obesity and breastfeeding initiation.
- To determine the relationship between maternal obesity and the duration of breastfeeding.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the 1995 National Health Survey in Australia.
- Included 1991 mothers aged 17-50 with children under four years old.
- Analyzed breastfeeding initiation and duration based on Body Mass Index (BMI).
Main Results:
- Mothers with a BMI of 30 or higher had lower breastfeeding initiation rates (82.3%) compared to those with a BMI of 20-25 (89.2%).
- Significant differences were observed in the mean and median duration of breastfeeding between obese and non-obese mothers.
- These findings persisted after accounting for maternal smoking, age, and sociodemographic factors.
Conclusions:
- Obese women may face increased challenges in initiating and sustaining breastfeeding.
- Healthcare professionals should be aware of this increased risk and provide appropriate support.
- Targeted interventions may be necessary to improve breastfeeding outcomes for obese mothers.