Association Between Exclusive Breastfeeding, Nutritional Status and Eating Behavior, in Chilean Schoolchildren: A...

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the association between exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) up to six months and both nutritional status and eating behavior in Chilean schoolchildren aged 5 to 8 years. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 109 children aged 8-10 years from three cities in Chile. EBF was assessed retrospectively through caregiver questionnaires. Eating behavior was evaluated using the Spanish version of the CEBQ. Anthropometric measurements (weight, height, and waist circumference) were obtained following a standardized protocol to determine nutritional status and waist-to-height ratio. Differences between EBF and non-EBF groups were analyzed using the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results: Eating behavior scores for pro-intake ("food approach") were strongly associated with obesity among non-EBF children (ratio = 1.24, p = 0.001). Children with abdominal obesity who were not EBF showed higher scores for food approach behaviors (ratio = 1.22, p = 0.011). A significant trend was observed in the subscale Enjoyment of Food and Emotional Overeating in children with obesity (p = 0.011 and p = 0.008), abdominal obesity (p = 0.031 and p = 0.017), and cardiometabolic risk (p = 0.036 and p = 0.049) in the non-EBF group, compared to those who were EBF up to 6 months of age. Conclusions: Scores reflecting a tendency toward higher food intake were strongly associated with obesity and other obesity-related parameters in children who did not experience EBF during early childhood. Having been exclusively breastfed, regardless of current nutritional status, was associated with lower scores on pro-obesity behaviors.