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Differences by race and ethnicity in the relationship between breastfeeding and obesity in preschool children

Hillary L Burdette1, Robert C Whitaker

  • 1Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Ethnicity & Disease
|November 8, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Breastfeeding may impact childhood obesity differently across racial and ethnic groups. This study found a significant association only in Hispanic children, suggesting race/ethnicity is a key factor in breastfeeding

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a significant public health concern.
  • The role of breastfeeding in preventing childhood obesity is well-documented.
  • Existing research has not fully explored potential racial and ethnic disparities in this relationship.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether the association between breastfeeding and childhood obesity varies by race/ethnicity.
  • To test the hypothesis of differential effects of breastfeeding on obesity across racial/ethnic groups.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the prospective Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study.
  • Included 2146 children born between 1998-2000 in 20 US cities.
  • Defined obesity as body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile.

Main Results:

  • Overall, 52% of children were ever breastfed, and 18% were obese at age 3.
  • The relationship between breastfeeding and obesity prevalence differed significantly by race/ethnicity (P = .02).
  • Ever breastfeeding was associated with lower obesity prevalence in Hispanic children (23.3% vs. 33.0%, P=.01), but not in White or Black children.

Conclusions:

  • The impact of breastfeeding on childhood obesity is not uniform across all racial and ethnic groups.
  • Findings highlight the importance of considering race/ethnicity in studies on breastfeeding and adiposity.
  • Future research should explore these disparities further to inform targeted interventions.
Abstract

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