Infant feeding practices and children's weight status
Melissa D Rossiter1, Susan E Evers
1Mount Saint Vincent University.
Insights
Formula feeding was more common among mothers with less education or who skipped prenatal classes. Single-parent families had higher rates of childhood obesity, indicating a need for targeted support.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Infant feeding practices significantly impact child health outcomes.
- Socioeconomic factors can influence adherence to recommended feeding guidelines.
- Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern with long-term implications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine infant feeding practices in economically disadvantaged Canadian neighborhoods.
- To assess adherence to infant feeding recommendations.
- To identify factors associated with children's weight status.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal data collected from 1996-2003 as part of the Better Beginnings, Better Futures initiative in Ontario.
- Study included 546 children at three months and 483 at 48 months of age.
- Analysis focused on maternal education, prenatal class attendance, and family structure in relation to feeding practices and child weight.
Main Results:
- Mothers with less than a high school education were more likely to use formula (OR=1.83).
- Mothers not attending prenatal classes showed higher formula use (OR=2.37).
- Single-parent mothers were three times more likely to have an obese child (OR=3.35).
Conclusions:
- Targeted interventions are crucial for families in single-parent households to address childhood obesity.
- Encouraging prenatal program participation for mothers with lower educational attainment may improve breastfeeding rates.
- Addressing socioeconomic disparities in feeding practices is essential for promoting healthy child development.
Purpose:
Feeding practices for young Canadian children from economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods were examined to determine adherence to infant feeding recommendations and factors associated with children's weight status.
Methods:
Data for the study were collected from 1996 to 2003 as part of Better Beginnings, Better Futures, a longitudinal primary prevention initiative in Ontario. Study subjects were 546 children at age three months and 483 children at age 48 months.
Results:
Mothers who had less than a high school education (odds ratio [OR] = 1.83, confidence interval [CI] = 1.01-3.29) and mothers who did not attend prenatal classes (OR = 2.37, CI = 1.33-4.24) were more likely to use formula. Mothers who were single parents were three times more likely to have an obese child (OR = 3.35, CI = 1.39-8.06) than were mothers who were married or with a partner.
Conclusions:
Targeted strategies are needed for families as single-parent households were predictive of obesity in young children. Innovative encouragement to participate in prenatal programming for pregnant women who have less than a high school education may improve breastfeeding rates.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Drug Dosing: Infants and Children
01:17Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution
01:23Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption
01:21Drug Dosing: Obese Patients
01:26Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion
01:24Obesity