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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Association between breastfeeding and body mass index at age 6-7 years in an international survey
R J Hancox1, A W Stewart2, I Braithwaite3,4
1Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, New Zealand.
Insights
Breastfeeding appears to have minimal impact on children's body mass index (BMI). This study suggests increasing breastfeeding rates is unlikely to curb the global childhood obesity epidemic.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Nutritional Epidemiology
- Global Public Health
Background:
- Conflicting evidence exists regarding breastfeeding's protective effect against childhood obesity.
- The impact of breastfeeding on obesity may differ between high- and low-income countries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between breastfeeding and body mass index (BMI) in 6- to 7-year-old children.
- To examine potential differences in this association across countries with varying income levels.
Main Methods:
- A large international survey collected data on 76,635 children from 31 centers in 18 countries.
- Parental reports and direct measurements of child height and weight were utilized.
- Statistical analyses adjusted for reporting method, child's age and sex, and country's gross national income.
Main Results:
- Breastfed children had a slightly lower estimated BMI difference (-0.04 kg/m²; P=0.07).
- The risk of being overweight or obese was marginally reduced in breastfed children (odds ratio=0.95; P=0.012).
- No significant difference in the breastfeeding-BMI association was observed between lower and higher income countries.
Conclusions:
- Breastfeeding demonstrates a limited effect on children's BMI.
- Current evidence suggests that promoting breastfeeding alone may not effectively combat the global childhood obesity epidemic.
Background:
Breastfeeding is believed to reduce children's risk for obesity but data are conflicting. It is also uncertain if breastfeeding has different effects on obesity in high- and low-income countries.
Objectives:
This study aimed to investigate the association between having been breastfed and body mass index (BMI) in 6- to 7-year-old children in a large international survey.
Methods:
Parents/guardians reported whether their child had been breastfed and their current height and weight. Some centres measured height and weight directly. Analyses adjusted for whether height and weight were reported or measured, child's age, sex, country gross national income and centre.
Results:
Data were available for 76,635 participants from 31 centres in 18 countries. Reported breastfeeding rates varied from 27 to 98%. After adjusting for potential confounders, the estimated BMI difference was 0.04 kg m(-2) lower among those who had been breastfed (P = 0.07). The risk for being overweight or obese was slightly lower among breastfed children (odds ratio = 0.95, P = 0.012). There was no evidence that the association between breastfeeding and BMI was different in lower income countries compared with higher income countries.
Conclusions:
The findings suggest that breastfeeding has little impact on children's BMI. Increasing breastfeeding is unlikely to reduce the global epidemic of childhood obesity.
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