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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

Infant feeding and obesity at 11 years: prospective birth cohort study

Marilda Borges Neutzling1, Pedro Rodrigues Curi Hallal, Cora Luiza Pavin Araújo

  • 1Post-Graduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, CEP. 96020-220, Pelotas, RS, Brazil. mneutzling@terra.com.br

International Journal of Pediatric Obesity : IJPO : an Official Journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity
|April 9, 2009
PubMed

Insights

This study found no significant long-term impact of breastfeeding duration or early solid food introduction on childhood overweight or obesity at age 11. Breastfeeding did not show a lasting effect on adolescent anthropometry in this Brazilian cohort.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Nutritional Epidemiology

Background:

  • Early life feeding practices, including breastfeeding and the timing of solid food introduction, are crucial for child development.
  • Understanding the long-term effects of these practices on adolescent weight status is important for public health initiatives.
  • Previous research suggests a protective role of breastfeeding against overweight and obesity, but long-term evidence requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between breastfeeding duration and the introduction of solid or semi-solid foods before four months of age with overweight and obesity at 11 years of age.
  • To analyze the relationship between various breastfeeding indicators and anthropometric measurements in adolescence.
  • To determine if early feeding practices influence long-term weight status in a Brazilian birth cohort.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective, population-based birth cohort study involving 1,204 adolescents aged 11 years.
  • Data collected included breastfeeding duration (any, exclusive/predominant), early introduction of solids (before 4 months), and feeding patterns at 4 months.
  • Overweight and obesity were defined using Body Mass Index (BMI) and skinfold measurements according to National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) criteria.

Main Results:

  • The prevalence of overweight and obesity risk at 11 years was 23.2% and 11.6%, respectively.
  • The lowest prevalence of both outcomes was observed in children breastfed for one to three months.
  • No statistically significant association was found between breastfeeding indicators or early solid food introduction and anthropometric measures at 11 years, even after adjusting for confounding factors.

Conclusions:

  • The study's findings do not support the hypothesis that breastfeeding confers a lasting protective effect on anthropometry in this population.
  • Early introduction of solid foods before four months of age was not significantly associated with overweight or obesity at 11 years.
  • Further research may be needed to explore other factors influencing long-term weight status in adolescence.
Abstract

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