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Breastfeeding Reduces Childhood Obesity Risks
Liang Wang1, Candice Collins1, Melanie Ratliff1
11 Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University , Johnson City, TN.
Insights
Breastfeeding for at least one month significantly lowers childhood obesity risk. Longer breastfeeding durations, over six months, further reduce obesity risks, highlighting its long-term benefits for children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern with long-term implications.
- Understanding modifiable factors like infant feeding practices is crucial for prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between breastfeeding and the development of childhood obesity.
- To examine the impact of breastfeeding duration on obesity risk from early childhood through grade 6.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of longitudinal data from 1234 U.S. children.
- Utilized logistic regression and generalized estimating equation (GEE) models.
- Child height and weight were measured at multiple time points from 24 months to grade 6.
Main Results:
- Breastfeeding at 1 month was linked to a 53% and 47% reduced risk of obesity at grades 1 and 6, respectively.
- GEE analysis indicated a 36% reduced risk of obesity from 24 months through grade 6 with breastfeeding at 1 month.
- Breastfeeding for over 6 months was associated with a 42% decreased risk of childhood obesity compared to never breastfeeding.
Conclusions:
- Early and sustained breastfeeding are effective in reducing the risk of childhood obesity.
- Low breastfeeding rates in the U.S. during the 1990s may have contributed to long-term obesity trends in children.
Background:
The present study examined the effects of breastfeeding and its duration on the development of childhood obesity from 24 months through grade 6.
Methods:
U.S. longitudinal data collected from 1234 children were analyzed using logistic regression models and generalized estimating equation (GEE). Child height and weight were measured six times at ages of 24 months, 36 months, 54 months, grade 1, grade 3, and grade 6.
Results:
During the early 1990s, prevalence of breastfeeding was low in the United States, 60% and 48% at 1 and 6 months, respectively. Nonsmoking, white, married mothers with both parents in the household, and with income above the poverty line, were more likely to breastfeed at 1 month of age of their babies. Obesity rate of the children increased with age from 24 months to grade 6. Logistic regression showed that breastfeeding at month 1 was associated with 53% (odds ratio [OR]: 0.47, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.30-0.73) and 47% (OR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.36-0.78) decreased risks for childhood obesity at grades 1 and 6, respectively. GEE analysis showed that breastfeeding at 1 month reduced risk for childhood obesity by 36% (95% CI: 0.47-0.88) from ages 24 months through grade 6. Regarding breastfeeding duration, more than 6 months (vs. never) was associated with a decreased risk for childhood obesity by 42% (OR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.36-0.94).
Conclusions:
Breastfeeding at 1 month and more than 6 months reduced the risk of childhood obesity. Rate of breastfeeding was low in the United States in the 1990s, which may have had long-term implications on children.