Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Fat Preference: A Novel Model of Eating Behavior in Rats
05:57

Fat Preference: A Novel Model of Eating Behavior in Rats

Published on: June 27, 2014

Infant feeding and obesity through the lifecourse

T J Parsons1, C Power, O Manor

  • 1Centre for Paediatric Epidemiology, Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, UK. t.parsons@ich.ucl.ac.uk

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|August 26, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Breastfeeding showed a protective effect against higher body mass index (BMI) in adolescents and adults, but this association weakened significantly after accounting for other factors. The initial link between breastfeeding and BMI was not evident in childhood.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Human Growth and Development

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern.
  • Understanding early life factors influencing long-term body mass index (BMI) is crucial.
  • The relationship between infant feeding practices and later-life BMI requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between breastfeeding and BMI across different life stages.
  • To determine if breastfeeding has a sustained protective effect on BMI in adolescents and adults.
  • To assess the impact of confounding factors on the breastfeeding-BMI relationship.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the 1958 British birth cohort study (n=12,857).
  • Assessed breastfeeding status in childhood.
  • Measured Body Mass Index (BMI) at ages 7, 16, and 33 years.
  • Employed statistical analyses to adjust for potential confounding variables.

Main Results:

  • No significant association between breastfeeding and BMI was observed in childhood (age 7).
  • Breastfeeding demonstrated a protective effect against elevated BMI at ages 16 and 33 in females, and at age 33 in males.
  • This protective effect was substantially diminished and became statistically non-significant after adjusting for confounding factors.

Conclusions:

  • While breastfeeding may show an initial protective association with BMI in later life, this effect is largely explained by other factors.
  • Early life feeding practices may have complex and potentially mediated relationships with long-term weight status.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the relationship between breastfeeding and BMI, considering various environmental and genetic influences.

More Related Videos

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

Palatable Western-style Cafeteria Diet as a Reliable Method for Modeling Diet-induced Obesity in Rodents09:10

Palatable Western-style Cafeteria Diet as a Reliable Method for Modeling Diet-induced Obesity in Rodents

Published on: November 1, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Life Histories01:29

Life Histories

Constrained by limited energy and resources, organisms must compromise between offspring quantity and parental investment. This trade-off is represented by two primary reproductive strategies; K-strategists produce few offspring but provide substantial parental support, whereas r-strategists produce much progeny that receives little care. These strategies are related to an organism’s survival likelihood across its lifespan, which is represented by a survivorship curve. Three general types of...
Obesity01:24

Obesity

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in adipocytes...
Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition01:27

Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition

Parenteral Nutrition (PN) delivers essential nutrients directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system. It is commonly used for individuals with severe digestive disorders or conditions that prevent normal nutrient absorption.
PN can be administered through two primary routes:
1. Central Parenteral Nutrition (CPN):
CPN involves delivering a high concentration of nutrients through a large vein. This is typically achieved using a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) or,...
Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
Stella Chess...
Lifestyle Factors and Health01:20

Lifestyle Factors and Health

Lifestyle factors play a critical role in maintaining overall health and preventing chronic diseases. Key elements, such as regular physical activity, a nutritious diet, and abstinence from smoking, can significantly enhance physical, mental, and emotional well-being while reducing the risk of several life-threatening conditions.
Benefits of Physical Activity
Physical activity, whether through structured exercise or casual activities like walking, biking, or dancing, is a cornerstone of a...
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...