[Breast feeding and early postnatal weight gain in Potsdam]

Nutrition and weight gain during the first trimenon of life of 400 babies (200 boys and 200 girls) born in 1975-1977 or 1979-1980 were compared with those of 600 babies (300 boys and 300 girls) born in 1982-1984. The following results were obtained: 1. In 1975-1977 only 10.8%, but in 1979-1980 23.1% and 1982-1984 33.6% of the babies have been breast-fed for more than 6 weeks. 2. In 1975-1977 16% of the babies showed a weight gain of more than 3.0 kg during the first trimenon of life, whereas in 1979-1980 only 8.5% and 1982-1984 only 2.2% displayed such a high weight gain. The average weight gain during the first trimenon was 2.75 +/- 0.55 kg in 1975-1977 and 2.30 +/- 0.61 kg in 1979-1980 and 2.43 +/- 0.35 kg in 1982-1984. 3. The percentage of babies with a weight gain of more than 3 kg during the first trimenon of life was significantly lower in those who were predominantly breast-fed than in those who where predominantly bottle-fed during this period (4.7% versus 9.7%). Hence breast feeding appears to be the best preventive therapy of an early developmental obesity.