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Malnutrition and Early Feeding Practices among 0‐2 Year‐Old Children in Lebanon
Author(s) -
Hwalla Nahla,
Nasreddine Lara,
Naja Farah,
Zgheib Rasha
Publication year - 2015
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.29.1_supplement.901.18
Subject(s) - overweight , medicine , wasting , obesity , anthropometry , malnutrition , breastfeeding , pediatrics , environmental health , breast feeding , odds ratio , breast milk , childhood obesity , demography , biochemistry , chemistry , sociology
Recent evidence suggests that early nutrition influences the risk of later‐onset obesity and Non‐Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Little is known on early feeding practices in Lebanon. The objective of this study is to assess the nutritional status and dietary practices of Lebanese young children and their mothers as possible predictors of increased NCDs. A nationally representative sample of young children (n=478; 0‐2 years) and their mothers were randomly selected from households in the six Lebanese governorates by stratified‐cluster sampling. Socio‐demographic, lifestyle, dietary and anthropometric data were collected. Stunting and wasting were identified in 7.8% and 2.7% of children, respectively. At risk of overweight, overweight and obesity were documented in 23.4%, 9.8% and 3.6%, respectively. Twenty percent of infants were exclusively breastfed for 6 months and 45.5% were introduced to solid food before 6 months. Eighty three percent of infants were introduced to liquids and 48.3% received formula milk before 4 months. The odds of overweight and obesity increased by 2 folds among children who were exclusively breastfed for less than 4 months (OR=2.17; 95% CI: 0.27‐17.8), and among those who received formula and breast milk in the first 6 months compared to those who were exclusively breastfed for 6 months (OR=2.11; 95% CI: 0.55‐8.04). Early introduction of solid and sweetened food before 6 months were associated with increased obesity risk among children (OR=1.35; 95% CI: 0.37‐4.86 for solid food and OR=1.44; 95% CI: 0.73‐2.83 for sweetened food). Findings reveal suboptimal early feeding practices in Lebanon. Effective interventions (promoting exclusive breastfeeding and timely/adequate introduction of complementary foods) may possibly reduce the burden of NCDs.