Maternal overweight impacts infant feeding patterns--the STEPS Study
J Mäkelä1, J Vaarno1, A Kaljonen1
1Turku Institute for Child and Youth Research, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
Insights
Maternal overweight is linked to shorter breastfeeding duration and earlier introduction of complementary foods. However, longer breastfeeding and delayed complementary foods protect children against obesity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Maternal Health
- Nutrition Science
Background:
- Maternal overweight and obesity are significant global health concerns.
- Breastfeeding and timely introduction of complementary foods are crucial for child development and long-term health.
- Understanding the interplay between maternal pre-pregnancy weight, infant feeding practices, and child growth is essential for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of maternal pre-pregnancy overweight on breastfeeding duration and the timing of complementary food introduction.
- To examine the association between maternal overweight, infant feeding practices, and children's growth trajectory from infancy to two years.
- To determine the protective effects of breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices against childhood obesity.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study involving 848 children from the STEPS Study, with data collected via follow-up diaries and maternity records.
- Maternal pre-pregnancy weight, height, and infant feeding data (breastfeeding duration, complementary food introduction) were recorded.
- Children's anthropometric measurements (weight, length/height, BMI) were taken at 13 months and 2 years of age.
Main Results:
- Overweight mothers exhibited shorter durations of full and total breastfeeding and introduced complementary foods earlier compared to normal-weight mothers.
- Children born to overweight mothers were heavier and had higher BMIs at two years, but maternal overweight did not significantly increase children's obesity risk (OR 1.04, P=0.12).
- Longer durations of full breastfeeding (OR 0.86, P=0.04), partial breastfeeding (OR 0.91, P=0.02), and delayed complementary food introduction (OR 0.69, P=0.03) were associated with a reduced risk of childhood obesity.
Conclusions:
- Women with pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity tend to breastfeed for shorter periods and introduce complementary foods earlier.
- These altered infant feeding patterns associated with maternal overweight may influence children's growth and body composition.
- Promoting extended breastfeeding and appropriate complementary feeding timing may mitigate obesity risk in children, irrespective of maternal pre-pregnancy weight status.
Objectives:
We examined how maternal overweight impacts full breastfeeding (BF), total duration of BF and the age of introduction of complementary foods (CFs) and whether these have effect on children's growth from 0 to 2 years.
Subjects/Methods:
From 1797 families participating in the STEPS Study, 848 children had data on BF and anthropometric data at 13 months and 2 years of age and were included in this study. Data on BF and CFs were collected using a self-administered follow-up diary. Information regarding maternal weight, height, pregnancy and delivery were received from maternity clinics and the National Longitudinal Census Files. The children's weight and length/height were recorded during the study visits at 13 months and 2 years.
Results:
Overweight women breastfed fully (2.2 vs 2.8 months, P<0.0001) and totally (7.4 vs 9.0 months, P<0.0001) for a shorter time and introduced CFs earlier (4.1 vs 4.3 months, P=0.02) than normal weight women. Children of overweight women were heavier and had a higher body mass index at 2 years than children of normal weight women. At 2 years of age 30% of boys and 17% of girls were overweight or obese. However, children's obesity risk was not increased by maternal overweight (odds ratio (OR) 1.04, P=0.12). Longer duration of full BF (OR 0.86, P=0.04) and partial BF (OR 0.91, P=0.02) and delayed introduction of CFs (OR 0.69, P=0.03) were protective against obesity.
Conclusions:
Our study suggests that women who were overweight or obese before pregnancy breastfed for a shorter time and introduced CFs earlier than normal weight women, which may further impact children's growth.
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