Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 2, 2026

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

28.0K

Infant-feeding practices and childhood stature in three ethnic groups

Tom Baranowski1, David Rassin1, Joel A Harrison1

  • 1The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas 77550-2782.

American Journal of Human Biology : the Official Journal of the Human Biology Council
|May 19, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Infant feeding practices do not significantly impact child stature in toddlers. Key factors influencing height in children aged 3-4 are age and maternal height, not feeding methods.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Human Growth and Development
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Conflicting research exists regarding the influence of infant feeding practices on child stature.
  • Understanding these relationships is crucial for child development and long-term health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between infant feeding practices and the stature of 3- to 4-year-old children.
  • To identify key determinants of child stature in a tri-ethnic sample.

Main Methods:

  • Multivariate statistical techniques were employed to analyze data from a tri-ethnic sample.
  • Variables included child stature, maternal height, child age, infant milk-feeding type, introduction of specific foods, and social characteristics.

Main Results:

  • No statistically significant relationships were found between infant feeding modes and child stature.
  • Child age and maternal height were the strongest predictors of stature, explaining 61% of the variance.
  • Child adiposity, gender, and ethnicity showed weaker associations with stature.

Conclusions:

  • Infant feeding methods are unlikely to significantly affect the stature of children by age 3-4.
  • Child's age and maternal height are primary determinants of stature in early childhood.

More Related Videos

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts07:56

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts

Published on: January 29, 2018

18.4K
Breakfast Habits among Schoolchildren in the City of Uruguaiana, Brazil06:48

Breakfast Habits among Schoolchildren in the City of Uruguaiana, Brazil

Published on: July 29, 2020

5.2K

Related Concept Videos

Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience,...
22.6K
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
392
Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture01:27

Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture

Adolescents from ethnic minority backgrounds face a multifaceted journey in forming their identities, shaped by the intersections of cultural expectations and personal exploration. For these adolescents, identity formation involves not only typical developmental challenges but also navigating the perceptions and attitudes of the majority culture. As they grow, adolescents in ethnic minority groups often become increasingly aware of stereotypes, social biases, and discrimination, all of which...
356
Relationship with Parents: Attachment01:28

Relationship with Parents: Attachment

Parent-child interactions lay the foundation for how we understand relationships throughout life. These interactions are not uniform across families; instead, they are shaped by a range of environmental, emotional, and behavioral factors unique to each caregiver-child dynamic. Social psychologists study these early relationships to understand how patterns formed in infancy influence social functioning and interpersonal behavior in adulthood.Attachment Theory and Early Relational ModelsJohn...
295
Anatomy of the Intestines01:23

Anatomy of the Intestines

Although digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids may begin in the stomach, it is completed in the intestine. The absorption of nutrients, water, and electrolytes from food and drink also occurs in the intestine. The intestines can be divided into two structurally distinct organs—the small and large intestines.
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the...
88.7K
Signs of Puberty01:27

Signs of Puberty

Puberty is a critical phase, typically beginning between the ages of 8 and 13 in girls and 9 and 14 in boys, though timing can vary based on genetics, environmental factors, and overall health. This period is characterized by the development of secondary sexual characteristics and the attainment of reproductive potential. Endocrine changes underpin puberty, with hormonal surges of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) instigated by Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH)...
1.7K