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Infant Feeding Practices and Subsequent Dietary Patterns of School-Aged Children in a US Birth Cohort
Alexandra R Sitarik1, Jean M Kerver2, Suzanne L Havstad1
1Department of Public Health Sciences, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan.
Insights
Early infant feeding practices like breastfeeding did not significantly impact children's dietary patterns at age 10. Further research is needed to understand long-term effects and confounding factors in childhood diet.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Public Health
- Childhood Development
Background:
- Infant feeding practices are hypothesized to influence food preferences and acceptance.
- Limited research exists on the long-term impact of infant feeding on later childhood diet.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between infant feeding practices and dietary patterns (DPs) in school-aged children.
- To analyze data from a prospective birth cohort for long-term feeding practice effects.
Main Methods:
- Secondary analysis of the Wayne County Health Environment Allergy and Asthma Longitudinal Study (WHEALS) cohort.
- Included 471 children at age 10, assessing DPs using the Block Kids Food Screener.
- Latent class analysis and multinomial logistic regression modeled associations between feeding practices and DPs.
Main Results:
- Identified three DPs: processed/energy-dense (35%), variety plus high intake (41%), and healthy (24%).
- No statistically significant associations were found between breastfeeding (at 1 or 6 months) and DPs.
- No significant association was detected between age at solid food introduction and DPs.
Conclusions:
- This study did not find a significant link between early infant feeding practices and later childhood dietary patterns.
- Larger studies with extended follow-up and control for confounding factors are necessary to clarify these relationships.
Background:
Infant feeding practices are thought to shape food acceptance and preferences. However, few studies have evaluated whether these affect child diet later in life.
Objective:
The study objective was to examine the association between infant feeding practices and dietary patterns (DPs) in school-aged children.
Design:
A secondary analysis of data from a diverse prospective birth cohort with 10 years of follow-up (WHEALS [Wayne County Health Environment Allergy and Asthma Longitudinal Study]) was conducted.
Participants/Setting:
Children from the WHEALS (Detroit, MI, born 2003 through 2007) who completed a food screener at age 10 years were included (471 of 1,258 original participants).
Main Outcome Measures:
The main outcome was DPs at age 10 years, identified using the Block Kids Food Screener.
Statistical Analysis Performed:
Latent class analysis was applied for DP identification. Breastfeeding and age at solid food introduction were associated with DPs using a 3-step approach for latent class modeling based on multinomial logistic regression models.
Results:
The following childhood DPs were identified: processed/energy-dense food (35%), variety plus high intake (41%), and healthy (24%). After weighting for loss to follow-up and covariate adjustment, compared with formula-fed children at 1 month, breastfed children had 0.41 times lower odds of the processed/energy-dense food DP vs the healthy DP (95% CI 0.14 to 1.25) and 0.53 times lower odds of the variety plus high intake DP (95% CI 0.17 to 1.61), neither of which were statistically significant. Results were similar, but more imprecise, for breastfeeding at 6 months. In addition, the association between age at solid food introduction and DP was nonsignificant, with each 1-month increase in age at solid food introduction associated with 0.81 times lower odds of the processed/energy-dense food DP relative to the healthy DP (95% CI 0.64 to 1.02).
Conclusions:
A significant association between early life feeding practices and dietary patterns at school age was not detected. Large studies with follow-up beyond early childhood that can also adjust for the multitude of potential confounders associated with breastfeeding are needed.
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