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Maternal BMI, breastfeeding and perinatal factors that influence early childhood growth trajectories: a scoping

Kayla Y Abrego Del Castillo1,2, Cindy-Lee Dennis3, Susan Wamithi1,2

  • 1Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease
|January 6, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and breastfeeding practices significantly influence child growth trajectories. Early interventions focusing on healthy weight gain and exclusive breastfeeding are crucial for preventing childhood obesity.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Maternal-Child Health

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a growing global health concern, linked to adult noncommunicable diseases.
  • Existing individual preventive strategies have proven insufficient in curbing rising obesity rates.
  • A clinical gap exists in early perinatal interventions for childhood obesity prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the relationship between maternal Body Mass Index (BMI) and breastfeeding behaviors on child growth.
  • To identify the relevance of these factors in developing interventions for childhood obesity prevention.

Main Methods:

  • A scoping review guided by the Arksey and O'Malley framework.
  • Systematic search across four databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PubMed).
  • Inclusion of 14 studies after screening 4190 unique records and 197 full-text articles.

Main Results:

  • Early life risk factors for child obesity are multifactorial and modifiable.
  • Key themes identified include parental weight, genetics, infant feeding, and growth trajectories.
  • At-risk groups benefit from interventions promoting healthy weight gain and exclusive breastfeeding.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal BMI and breastfeeding are critical factors in child growth and obesity risk.
  • Early, targeted preventative interventions are essential for at-risk populations.
  • Promoting exclusive breastfeeding to six months and healthy lifestyle behaviors is recommended.

Keywords:
Exclusive breastfeedingchildhood obesitymaternal and infant healthscoping review

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