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Complementary Feeding and Overweight in European Preschoolers: The ToyBox-Study
Natalya Usheva1, Sonya Galcheva2, Greet Cardon3
1Department of Social Medicine and Health Care Organization, Medical University of Varna, 9002 Varna, Bulgaria.
Insights
Introducing solid foods (SF) early or late to infants does not significantly impact their risk of becoming overweight. This finding suggests other factors beyond the timing of complementary feeding influence childhood obesity development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nutrition Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Complementary feeding (CF) timing is crucial for infant growth but potentially linked to childhood obesity.
- Optimal CF initiation is recommended between 4-6 months of age.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between the timing of complementary feeding (CF), breastfeeding, and overweight in preschool children.
- To determine if early solid food (SF) introduction affects the risk of overweight in preschoolers.
Main Methods:
- Utilized self-reported infant feeding practices from over 7500 parents across six European countries (ToyBox-study).
- Data collected in 2012 using a validated questionnaire on infant feeding and early childhood outcomes.
Main Results:
- No significant association was found between early SF introduction (1-3 months) and overweight risk in preschoolers compared to later introduction (4-6 months).
- Breastfeeding duration and socioeconomic status positively correlated with SF introduction timing; smoking during pregnancy showed a negative association.
- Early SF introduction showed no increased risk for overweight in breastfed or formula-fed preschoolers.
Conclusions:
- The timing of introducing solid foods does not appear to be a significant factor in childhood obesity.
- Other unidentified factors likely play a more substantial role in the development of childhood obesity.
Abstract:
Complementary feeding (CF) should start between 4-6 months of age to ensure infants' growth but is also linked to childhood obesity. This study aimed to investigate the association of the timing of CF, breastfeeding and overweight in preschool children. Infant-feeding practices were self-reported in 2012 via a validated questionnaire by >7500 parents from six European countries participating in the ToyBox-study. The proportion of children who received breast milk and CF at 4-6 months was 51.2%. There was a positive association between timing of solid food (SF) introduction and duration of breastfeeding, as well as socioeconomic status and a negative association with smoking throughout pregnancy (p < 0.005). No significant risk to become overweight was observed among preschoolers who were introduced to SF at 1-3 months of age compared to those introduced at 4-6 months regardless of the type of milk feeding. Similarly, no significant association was observed between the early introduction of SF and risk for overweight in preschoolers who were breastfed for ≥4 months or were formula-fed. The study did not identify any significant association between the timing of introducing SF and obesity in childhood. It is likely that other factors than timing of SF introduction may have impact on childhood obesity.
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