Greater Breastfeeding in Early Infancy Is Associated with Slower Weight Gain among High Birth Weight Infants
Amy R Goetz1, Constance A Mara1, Lori J Stark1
1Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH.
Insights
Infant feeding patterns in the first six months influence the link between birth weight and later weight. Lower breast milk intake is linked to excess weight in high birth weight infants, suggesting early obesity prevention targets.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Infant Health
- Obesity Prevention
Background:
- Birth weight is a known predictor of later childhood weight.
- Early infant feeding practices may modify this association.
- Understanding these interactions is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how feeding patterns from birth to 6 months affect the relationship between birth weight and weight at 7-12 months of age.
- To identify potential early intervention points for obesity prevention.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 1799 mother-infant dyads (Infant Feeding Practices Study II).
- Analysis of breast milk percentage and formula intake from birth to 6 months.
- Classification of birth weight (high/normal) and 7-12 month weight (high/normal z-score).
Main Results:
- High birth weight infants with high later weight showed a faster decline in breast milk intake.
- Normal birth weight infants with high later weight consumed less breast milk and more formula.
- These feeding pattern associations with later weight were consistent across different birth weight classifications.
Conclusions:
- Reduced breast milk feeding in early infancy is associated with excess weight at 7-12 months in high birth weight infants.
- The first six months of life represent a critical window for obesity prevention strategies.
- Targeting feeding practices in this period may mitigate risks associated with high birth weight.
Objective:
To examine whether feeding patterns from birth to age 6 months modify the association between birth weight and weight at 7-12 months of age.
Study Design:
Longitudinal mixed models were used to examine feeding trajectories across categories of birth weight and weight at 7-12 months of age in 1799 mother-infant dyads enrolled in the Infant Feeding Practices Study II. The percentage of breast milk received and the average daily formula consumption were calculated from birth to 6 months of age. Birth weights were classified as high (≥4000 g) and normal (≥2500 g and <4000 g). Weights at 7-12 months of age were categorized as high (z score >1) or normal (z score ≤1). A secondary analysis was performed using categories defined by birth weight adjusted for gestational age percentiles (>90% and 10th-90th percentile).
Results:
High birth weight (HBW) infants with high weights at 7-12 months of age demonstrated a rapid decline in the percentage of breast milk feedings compared with HBW infants with normal weights at 7-12 months of age. Normal birth weight infants with high weights at 7-12 months of age received a lower percentage of breast milk and had greater absolute intakes of formula than those with normal weights at 7-12 months of age; these associations did not vary over time. Results were similar when infants were categorized by birth weight percentiles.
Conclusions:
A lower proportion of breast milk feedings was associated with excess weight at 7-12 months of age in HBW infants. These findings suggest an initial target for obesity prevention programs focusing on the first 6 months after birth.
Related Concept Videos
00:57Weighted Mean
For example, consider the number of goals scored in the matches of a tournament. While computing the average number of goals scored in the tournament, it may be more important to...
01:25Atomic Weight
01:19Mass and Weight
01:09Apparent Weight
Consider a person standing on a bathroom scale inside an elevator. If the scale is accurate at rest, its reading equals the...
01:13Cable Subjected to Its Own Weight
A generalized loading function is employed to analyze a cable subjected to its own weight. This function considers the force acting along the cable's arc length rather than its projected length, providing a more accurate...
01:01Polymers: Defining Molecular Weight
The number average molecular weight (Mn) is the summation of the number...