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Association between infant breastfeeding and overweight in young children
M L Hediger1, M D Overpeck, R J Kuczmarski
1Division of Epidemiology, Statistics and Prevention Research, NICHD/NIH, Bldg 6100, Room 7B03, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892-7510, USA. hedigerm@exchange.nih.gov
Breastfeeding may reduce the risk of children being overweight, but the duration of breastfeeding did not show a clear dose-dependent effect. Maternal weight status was a stronger predictor of child overweight than breastfeeding duration.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Nutrition
Background:
- Breastfeeding is hypothesized to protect against childhood overweight.
- A dose-dependent effect of breastfeeding duration on this protective association has been suggested.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between breastfeeding, its duration, and the risk of overweight in young US children.
- To determine if breastfeeding offers protection against children being overweight.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) (1988-1994).
- Analyzed data from 2685 US-born children aged 3-5 years with available feeding, height, and weight information.
- Defined overweight risk using Body Mass Index (BMI) percentiles (85th-94th percentile for at-risk, ≥95th percentile for overweight).
Main Results:
- Ever breastfeeding was associated with a reduced risk of being at risk of overweight (AOR 0.63; 95% CI 0.41-0.96).
- No reduced risk of being overweight was observed (AOR 0.84; 95% CI 0.62-1.13).
- No clear dose-dependent or threshold effect of breastfeeding duration on overweight risk was found.
- Maternal overweight and obesity were significant predictors of child overweight status.
Conclusions:
- Associations between breastfeeding, its duration, and childhood overweight risk are inconsistent.
- While breastfeeding is recommended, moderating familial factors like diet and activity may be more critical for preventing childhood overweight.
- Maternal weight status is a stronger determinant of childhood overweight than breastfeeding duration.
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