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The effects of breastfeeding on childhood BMI: a propensity score matching approach

Laura A Gibson1, Mónica Hernández Alava1, Michael P Kelly2

  • 1Health Economics and Decision Science, School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK.

Journal of Public Health (Oxford, England)
|September 11, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Breastfeeding is associated with lower childhood body mass index (BMI). Prolonged, exclusive breastfeeding significantly reduces BMI in children, suggesting its importance in public health guidelines for obesity prevention.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Numerous studies indicate a correlation between breastfeeding and childhood adiposity.
  • Confounding factors often complicate the interpretation of this association.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the causal effect of breastfeeding on subsequent childhood body mass index (BMI).
  • To quantify the impact of exclusive and partial breastfeeding duration on BMI using advanced statistical methods.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the Millennium Cohort Study, a UK-representative national cohort.
  • Employed propensity score matching to control for potential confounders in infant feeding practices.
  • Analyzed mean BMI in children based on exclusive and partial breastfeeding durations.

Main Results:

  • Statistically significant inverse relationship found between breastfeeding and childhood BMI, especially with prolonged exclusive breastfeeding.
  • Children exclusively breastfed for 16 weeks showed a 0.28 kg/m² lower BMI at age 7 compared to never-breastfed children.
  • This represents a 2% reduction in mean BMI, highlighting a meaningful effect even in early childhood.

Conclusions:

  • Even modest effects of breastfeeding on BMI are significant for child health.
  • Encouraging breastfeeding, as part of broader lifestyle interventions, can contribute to BMI reduction.
  • Findings can inform public health bodies in developing effective guidelines and recommendations for obesity prevention.
Abstract

Keywords:
childrenobesitypublic health

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