Relationship between Breast Feeding and Obesity in Children with Low Birth Weight
Mitra Zarrati1, Farzad Shidfar1, Maryam Moradof2
1Department of Nutrition and Biochemistry, Faculty of Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
Insights
Breast feeding is linked to reduced childhood obesity, especially in low birth weight children. Longer breast feeding duration shows a significant inverse correlation with obesity and abdominal obesity in this group.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Public Health Nutrition
- Childhood Obesity Research
Background:
- Breastfeeding's role in childhood obesity and abdominal obesity, particularly in low birth weight infants, is a growing concern.
- Understanding these early life factors is crucial for long-term health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between breastfeeding and obesity/abdominal obesity in Iranian school children.
- To identify potential protective effects of breastfeeding against childhood weight-related issues.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 1184 Iranian school children (ages 10-13).
- Data collection included anthropometric measurements (height, weight, waist circumference) and a questionnaire on family history, feeding practices, and birth weight.
- Statistical analysis was used to determine correlations between variables.
Main Results:
- Low birth weight was observed in 13.68% of students, with 26.41% of this subgroup exhibiting abdominal obesity.
- Overall overweight and obesity rates were 22.04% and 5.32%, respectively, with higher prevalence in girls.
- Breastfeeding showed a significant inverse correlation with obesity and abdominal obesity in children with a history of low birth weight (P=0.01).
Conclusions:
- Breastfeeding and its long-term effects are significant in preventing metabolic syndrome criteria during childhood and later life.
- Further research is essential to fully elucidate the impact of breastfeeding on chronic disease risk, particularly in low birth weight children, given rising childhood obesity rates.
Background:
Breast feeding appears to play a role in determining obesity and abdominal obesity during childhood, specifically in children with a history of low birth weight.
Objective:
The purpose of this study is to investigate the relation of breast-feeding with either of abdominal obesity and obesity among Iranian school children.
Materials And Methods:
A total of 1184 students (625 girls and 559 boys), aged 10 to 13 years old, were selected from 112 governmental elementary schools in Iran. Height, weight, waist circumference and blood pressure were measured using standard instruments and a pretested standardized questionnaire was performed for compiling information about family economics and educational level, first-degree family history of obesity, history of breast feeding, food pattern and birth weight, as well.
Results:
13.68% (n = 160) of students had a history of low birth weight, and 26.41% of them had abdominal obesity. Of all participants, 22.04% were overweight and 5.32% were obese which was more prevalent in girls than in boys (P = 0.03). First-degree family history of obesity (P = 0.001), excessive gestational weight gain (P = 0.001) and birth weight (P = 0.01) were significantly correlated with the prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity during childhood. Moreover the prevalence of abdominal obesity in children with low birth weight was significantly correlated with breast feeding (P = 0.04); But this relation was not significantly about obesity in our participants (P = 0.9). Furthermore duration of breast feeding was significantly and inversely correlated with obesity and abdominal obesity in schoolchildren with low birth weight (P = 0.01).
Conclusions:
The results suggest that Breast feeding and its long-term consequences were important factors for preventing metabolic syndrome criteria in childhood and later years of life span. With regard to the increasing prevalence of obesity in children, more research is urgently needed to clarify whether breast feeding have negative consequences for the risk of chronic disease in children, especially in children with low birth weight.
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