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Does Pacifier Use in Infancy Decrease the Risk of Obesity?
Ahdi Amer1, Mohammed Abusamaan2, Xiaoming Li3
11 Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.
Clinical Pediatrics
|April 4, 2017
Summary
Pacifier use in infancy is linked to a lower risk of childhood obesity. Offering a pacifier may help prevent infants from becoming overweight or obese.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Childhood Obesity Research
Background:
- Nonnutritive sucking, including pacifier or finger use, is a natural infant reflex.
- Constant feeding may lead to overfeeding in infants.
- The study investigated the link between early pacifier use and later obesity risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if pacifier use in early infancy is associated with a reduced incidence of obesity at a later age.
- To explore the protective effect of pacifiers against infantile obesity.
Main Methods:
- Parents of 399 infants (9-15 months old) were interviewed.
- Pacifier use for ≥9 months was assessed.
- Infant Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated at birth, 6 months, and during the interview.
Main Results:
- 51% of infants used a pacifier consistently; 49% did not.
- Non-pacifier users showed higher rates of overweight (21%) and obesity (16%) compared to pacifier users (11% overweight, 11% obese).
- The difference in obesity rates between groups was statistically significant (P = .003).
Conclusions:
- Infantile pacifier use is associated with a lower incidence of obesity at 9-15 months of age.
- Offering a pacifier may serve as a protective measure against the development of infantile obesity.