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Breastfeeding as a predictor of body mass index in 2‐year‐old children at risk for overweight
Author(s) -
Street Erin E,
Lovelady Cheryl,
Ostbye Truls,
Pendzich Margaret,
Fuemmeler Bernard
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.1080.6
Subject(s) - breastfeeding , overweight , medicine , body mass index , obesity , demography , birth weight , childhood obesity , pediatrics , obstetrics , pregnancy , sociology , biology , genetics
The purpose of this study was to determine if breastfeeding was associated with BMI of children at 2 yrs who were at risk for obesity. Overweight/obese mothers (BMI = 32.9 ± 7.3 kg/m 2 ) and their children were studied from 7 wks until 2 yrs postpartum (PP). Baseline data included race, education, income, age, marital status, gestational wt gain, and birth wt. At 1 yr PP mothers reported infant feeding. Women were assigned 0 if formula feeding only, 1 if combining formula and breastfeeding, and 2 if breastfeeding only for each month during the first year PP. A lactation score was calculated by totaling the values for each month. Scores were used to define two groups: 1) low intensity/duration (score=0–11, N=129) and 2) high intensity/duration (score=12–24, N=74). Race was 51% white, 46% African American and 3% other. At 2 yrs PP, 20% of children were overweight and 24% were obese using WHO growth standards. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine predictors of child BMI at 2 yrs. Variables were baseline data, gender, mothers BMI and breastfeeding group. The model accounted for 16% (p<0.001) of the variation in child BMI. Birth wt (p=0.01), mother BMI (p=0.03), and gestational wt gain (p=0.06) predicted an increase, while high intensity and long duration of breastfeeding (p=0.07) predicted a decrease in child BMI at 2 yrs. These results suggest breastfeeding may reduce obesity in children born to overweight/obese women. Supported by R01‐ DK064986