Influence of weight concerns on breastfeeding: Evidence from the Norwegian mother and child cohort study
Seung-Yong Han1, Alexandra A Brewis2
1Mayo Clinic/Arizona State University Obesity Solutions, Tempe, Arizona 85287.
Objectives:
High body mass index (BMI) often predicts truncated breastfeeding, although why is unclear. We test a proposed mediating role of body concerns on breastfeeding initiation and child's age at weaning using longitudinal data for 55,522 mothers from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa).
Methods:
A linear regression-based mediation analysis with bootstrapping estimates the indirect effects of BMI on breastfeeding decisions (ever-initiation of breastfeeding, child's age at weaning, and duration of any breastfeeding beyond six months) through the variables of concern around prepregnancy weight and weight gains due to pregnancy.
Results:
Contrary to prediction, Norwegian mothers with greater prepregnancy weight concerns had a higher likelihood of initiating breastfeeding. Concerns about weight gain during pregnancy, however, predicted earlier weaning. This relationship was the same for higher and lower BMI mothers.
Conclusion:
In this very large sample, body image affects some breastfeeding decisions. However, this effect is independent of mother's body size.
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