Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 14, 2026

Breakfast Habits among Schoolchildren in the City of Uruguaiana, Brazil
06:48

Breakfast Habits among Schoolchildren in the City of Uruguaiana, Brazil

Published on: July 29, 2020

Breastfeeding and dietary habits in childhood and adolescence: the PASOS study

Silvia García1,2,3, Marina Ródenas-Munar1,2,3, Luis Carmona-Rosado4

  • 1Research Group on Community Nutrition and Oxidative Stress, University of Balearic Islands-IUNICS, Palma de Mallorca, E-07122, Spain.

International Breastfeeding Journal
|May 13, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Longer breastfeeding duration is linked to healthier eating habits in children and adolescents. This association may be influenced by broader family and socioeconomic factors, not just breastfeeding itself.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Public Health
  • Dietary Epidemiology

Background:

  • Breastfeeding (BF) is recognized for its health benefits.
  • Understanding the long-term impact of BF duration on children's dietary habits is crucial for public health initiatives.
  • Previous research suggests a link between early life nutrition and later dietary patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between the duration of breastfeeding and the dietary habits of children and adolescents.
  • To determine if longer breastfeeding is correlated with adherence to a Mediterranean diet (MD).

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional analysis of two waves (2019, 2022) of the nationally representative PASOS study.
  • Inclusion of 6397 children and adolescents aged 8-16 years with sociodemographic, BF, and dietary data.
  • Assessment of BF duration (no BF, ≤6 months, >6 months) and dietary habits using the KIDMED index for MD adherence.
  • Statistical analysis including ANOVA, Chi-squared tests, and logistic regression.

Main Results:

  • Longer BF duration was significantly associated with higher adherence to the MD in both study waves (p<0.001).
  • Children breastfed for >6 months showed lower odds of skipping breakfast and higher odds of consuming cereals, vegetables, rice, or pasta.
  • These associations persisted after adjusting for exclusive BF, parental education, employment, and age, though effect sizes were reduced.

Conclusions:

  • Extended breastfeeding duration correlates with healthier dietary patterns and greater MD adherence in children and adolescents.
  • The observed associations might be influenced by underlying family and socioeconomic factors rather than a direct causal effect of BF.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the complex interplay between early feeding practices and long-term dietary behaviors.
Abstract

Keywords:
AdolescentsBreastfeedingChildrenDietary habitsMediterranean dietPASOS study

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