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Updated: Jun 2, 2026
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Prolonged bottle use and obesity at 5.5 years of age in US children
Rachel A Gooze1, Sarah E Anderson, Robert C Whitaker
1Department of Public Health, Center for Obesity Research and Education, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA.
Insights
Prolonged bottle use in toddlers is linked to a higher risk of childhood obesity. Avoiding extended bottle use may be a strategy to prevent obesity in young children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Nutrition Science
Background:
- Early childhood obesity is a growing public health concern.
- Dietary habits and feeding practices in infancy and toddlerhood can influence long-term weight status.
- Understanding risk factors for childhood obesity is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between prolonged bottle use and the risk of developing obesity at 5.5 years of age.
- To determine if continued bottle consumption beyond 24 months is a predictor of later obesity.
- To provide evidence-based insights for pediatricians and parents regarding feeding practices.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 6750 US children in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort.
- Defined obesity as a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile at 5.5 years.
- Assessed prolonged bottle use based on parental report of bottle consumption at 24 months of age.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of obesity at 5.5 years was 17.6%.
- Children using a bottle at 24 months had a higher prevalence of obesity (22.9%) compared to those not using a bottle (16.1%).
- Prolonged bottle use was significantly associated with an increased risk of obesity at 5.5 years (OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.68), even after adjusting for confounding factors.
Conclusions:
- Prolonged bottle use is a significant risk factor associated with obesity in early childhood.
- Limiting or avoiding bottle use beyond 24 months may contribute to the prevention of childhood obesity.
- This finding highlights the importance of age-appropriate feeding practices for healthy weight development.
Objective:
To examine the association between prolonged bottle use and the risk of obesity at 5.5 years of age.
Study Design:
Data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort were analyzed for 6750 US children born in 2001. The outcome was obesity (body mass index ≥ 95 th percentile) at 5.5 years, and the exposure was parental report of the child using a bottle at 24 months.
Results:
The prevalence of obesity at 5.5 years was 17.6%, and 22.3% of children were using a bottle at 24 months. The prevalence of obesity at 5.5 years was 22.9% (95% CI, 19.4% to 26.4%) in children who at 24 months were using a bottle and was 16.1% (95% CI, 14.9% to 17.3%) in children who were not. Prolonged bottle use was associated with an increased risk of obesity at 5.5 years (OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.68) after controlling for potential confounding variables (sociodemographic characteristics, maternal obesity, maternal smoking, breastfeeding, age of introduction of solid foods, screen-viewing time, and the child's weight status at birth and at 9 months of age).
Conclusions:
Prolonged bottle use was associated with obesity at 5.5 years of age. Avoiding this behavior may help prevent early childhood obesity.
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