Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

Impact of infant feeding practices on childhood obesity

Nancy F Butte1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. nbutte@bcm.edu

The Journal of Nutrition
|December 25, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Childhood obesity risk factors in Hispanic children include age, birth weight, parental obesity, and sedentary behavior. Breast-feeding may offer a minor protective effect, but other factors are more significant.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Genetics and Genomics
  • Public Health Nutrition

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a complex multifactorial disease.
  • Genetic predisposition and environmental factors interact, contributing to the rise in childhood obesity.
  • Previous studies on breast-feeding's protective effect against childhood obesity have yielded mixed results due to confounding factors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify genetic and environmental risk factors for obesity and its comorbidities in Hispanic children.
  • To analyze the association between infant-feeding practices and childhood obesity.
  • To determine salient risk factors in a large cohort of Hispanic children.

Main Methods:

  • The Viva La Familia Study enrolled 1030 Hispanic children from 319 families.
  • Binary logistic regression was used for panel data analysis to compute odds ratios for risk factors.
  • Potential risk factors including infant feeding, birth weight, parental obesity, and sedentary activity were assessed.

Main Results:

  • Early infant-feeding practices were not found to be significant risk factors for childhood obesity.
  • Key independent risk factors identified were: age, birth weight, maternal and paternal obesity, family size, and sedentary activity levels.
  • Breast-feeding showed a potentially small protective effect, though residual confounding is possible.

Conclusions:

  • While human milk offers benefits for infant development, other factors significantly outweigh infant-feeding practices as determinants of childhood obesity.
  • Parental obesity, birth weight, socioeconomic status, and sedentary behaviors are critical targets for intervention.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex interplay of factors contributing to childhood obesity.

More Related Videos

Breakfast Habits among Schoolchildren in the City of Uruguaiana, Brazil06:48

Breakfast Habits among Schoolchildren in the City of Uruguaiana, Brazil

Published on: July 29, 2020

Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes03:19

Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes

Published on: June 28, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Regulation of Food Intake01:30

Regulation of Food Intake

Short-term regulation of food intake primarily involves neural signals from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, blood nutrient levels, and GI tract hormones. Communication between the gut and brain via vagal nerve fibers plays a significant role in evaluating the contents of the gut. Clinical studies have shown that protein ingestion produces a more prolonged response in these nerve fibers compared to an equivalent amount of glucose. Additionally, the activation of stretch receptors caused by GI...
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,...
Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution01:25

Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution

Obesity significantly alters the pharmacokinetic processes of drug absorption and distribution, presenting unique challenges in medical treatment. The increased fat tissue and decreased lean muscle in obese individuals can significantly affect how drugs are absorbed into the body and distributed across different tissues. This alteration can lead to variances in the effectiveness and safety of medications, necessitating adjustments in dosing or drug selection for obese patients.One notable...
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
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,...