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Exclusive Breastfeeding in Early Infancy Is Associated with Lower Ultra-Processed Food Consumption in Toddlers
Camila Zancheta1, Mario Aldana1, Natalia Rebolledo1
1Center for Research in Food Environments and Prevention of Chronic Diseases Associated with Nutrition (CIAPEC), Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology (INTA), University of Chile, Macul, Chile.
Insights
Exclusive breastfeeding in early infancy is linked to reduced ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption in toddlers. Promoting breastfeeding can help lower UPF intake and establish healthier childhood eating patterns.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nutrition Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are increasingly prevalent in children's diets.
- Limited understanding exists regarding the influence of early feeding practices on childhood UPF consumption.
- Investigating the link between infant feeding methods and toddler UPF intake is crucial for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between infant feeding (breastfeeding vs. formula) in the first four months of life and UPF consumption in toddlers.
- To quantify the difference in UPF caloric intake between breastfed and formula-fed toddlers.
- To identify specific food categories contributing to UPF intake differences.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study involving 186 exclusively breastfed and 284 exclusively formula-fed infants in Santiago, Chile.
- Dietary intake assessed via 24-hour recall at 2 years of age.
- UPF caloric contribution estimated using the Nova food classification; associations analyzed with fractional probit regression.
Main Results:
- UPFs constituted 44.6% of toddlers' caloric intake.
- Formula-fed toddlers had significantly higher UPF intake (51.0%) compared to breastfed toddlers (35.5%), a difference of 15.4 percentage points after adjustment.
- Higher UPF intake in formula-fed children was primarily driven by UPF dairy products; they also consumed more infant formula and milk-based drinks.
Conclusions:
- Exclusive breastfeeding during early infancy is associated with significantly lower ultra-processed food consumption in toddlerhood.
- Findings support the promotion of breastfeeding as a key strategy to mitigate early exposure to UPFs.
- Encouraging breastfeeding can contribute to the development of healthier long-term eating habits in children.
Introduction:
Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are increasingly present in children's diets; however, little is known about how early feeding practices influence UPF consumption in childhood. We aimed to evaluate the association between infant feeding during the first 4 months of life (breastfeeding vs. infant formula) and UPF consumption in toddlers.
Methods:
This prospective study included 186 exclusively breastfed and 284 exclusively formula-fed infants recruited in Santiago, Chile. At the age of 2 years, dietary intake was assessed through 24-hour recall. The caloric contribution of UPF was estimated using the Nova food classification. Associations were evaluated using fractional probit regression models adjusted for potential confounders, including child, maternal, and household characteristics.
Results:
UPFs contributed 44.6% of the caloric intake of toddlers. The caloric proportion of UPFs in formula-fed children was 51.0% compared with 35.5% in breastfed children. After adjustment, formula-fed children had a 15.4 percentage point higher mean UPF intake (95% CI: 12.0-19.6; p < 0.001), mainly due to the higher intake of UPF dairy products. Around half of the breastfed children continued to receive breast milk at 2 years, accounting for 15% of the total energy intake of this group. Compared with breastfed children, formula-fed children consumed more infant or follow-up formula (11.0% vs. 6.8%, p = 0.002) and milk-based drinks (23.1% vs. 15.3%, p < 0.001) at 2 years.
Conclusions:
Exclusive breastfeeding in early infancy was associated with lower UPF consumption in toddlerhood. These findings support breastfeeding promotion as a strategy to reduce early exposure to UPFs and foster healthier eating habits during childhood.
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