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Early Infant Feeding Practices and Associations with Growth in Childhood

Priscilla K Clayton1, Diane L Putnick1, Ian R Trees1

  • 1Epidemiology Branch, Division of Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, 6710B Rockledge Dr, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA.

Nutrients
|March 13, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Early breastfeeding and delayed introduction of complementary foods are linked to lower childhood obesity risk. Exclusive breastfeeding and longer breastfeeding duration were associated with reduced BMI and overweight risk in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Childhood Obesity Epidemiology
  • Growth Monitoring

Background:

  • Early infant growth patterns are recognized predictors of later childhood obesity.
  • Understanding the impact of infant feeding practices on long-term anthropometric outcomes is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between early infant feeding practices and anthropometric measures.
  • To examine the relationship between infant feeding and the risk of overweight and obesity in childhood.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of data from 2492 children in the population-based longitudinal Upstate KIDS cohort.
  • Parental questionnaires reported breastfeeding and complementary food introduction (4-12 months).
  • Anthropometric data (weight, height) collected at 2-3 and 7-9 years; analyzed using linear mixed models adjusted for sociodemographic factors.

Main Results:

  • Exclusively breastfed infants had lower BMI and weight-for-age z-scores compared to formula-fed infants.
  • Infants breastfed for ≥12 months showed a significantly lower risk of being overweight at 2-3 years.
  • Delayed introduction of fruits and vegetables (5-8 months) was associated with a reduced risk of obesity at 7-9 years.

Conclusions:

  • Breastfeeding duration and type are associated with reduced childhood BMI and overweight risk.
  • Delayed introduction of specific complementary foods may mitigate childhood obesity risk.
  • These findings highlight the importance of evidence-based infant feeding guidelines for preventing childhood obesity.

Keywords:
breastfeedingchild developmentchildhood obesitycomplementary feedingearly infant feeding practicesnutritionoverweight

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