Duration of Breastfeeding, but Not Timing of Solid Food, Reduces the Risk of Overweight and Obesity in Children Aged 24 to 36 Months: Findings from an Australian Cohort Study

Abstract

This study aimed to determine whether breastfeeding duration and the timing of solid food were independently associated with being overweight or obese in early childhood. Subjects were 953 children participating in the Study of Mothers and Infants Life Events Affecting Oral Health (SMILE) birth cohort study, based in Adelaide, Australia. Socio-demographic information and data on breastfeeding duration and age of introduction of solid food were collected at birth, 3, 4, 6, 12, and 24 months via mailed or online questionnaires completed by mothers. The weight and height of children were measured at a dental examination when children were aged between 24 and 36 months. Body mass index was calculated, and children were categorised into weight groups according to the World Health Organization growth standards. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted, adjusting for maternal age at birth, education, socio-economic status, pre-pregnancy weight, smoking in pregnancy, method of delivery, and child’s birthweight. Risk of overweight/obesity was independently associated with maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, smoking in pregnancy, and birthweight. Children that were breastfed for 12 months or more had a significantly lower risk of being overweight/obese than those breastfed for less than 17 weeks (AOR 0.49; 95%CI 0.27, 0.90; p for trend =0.009). Age of introduction of solid food, however, was not associated with the risk of being overweight/obese at 24 to 36 months. This study provides further evidence of an inverse relationship between breastfeeding and risk of overweight/obesity, however, no association with the timing of solid food was detected.

Introduction to complementary feeding in the first year of life and risk of overweight at 24 months of age: changes from 2004 to 2015 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohorts

“…Infant-feeding practices during the first year of life are determinants of eating habits and nutritional status of children. Long-term benefits of breast milk on growth and child development during the first year of life are well documented (protection against infections and dental malocclusion, increase in intelligence and probable reductions in overweight and diabetes) (24,25) . However, age of introduction of complementary feeding has received less attention (2) .…”

Associations between timing and quality of solid food introduction with infant weight-for-length z-scores at 12 months: Findings from the Nurture cohort

“…The results from the present study also introduce some new considerations to the existing, and somewhat mixed research exploring the influence of early solid food introduction and risk of childhood obesity. 6 There was no observed independent association between early solid food introduction and infant WFL z-scores at 12-months, nor did breastfeeding modify the association between early solid food introduction and WFL z-scores. This finding is consistent with previous research in the IFPS II examining associations between early solid food introduction and childhood obesity risk at 6-years of age, but contradicts some previous research, 38 potentially due to differences in breastfeeding duration between the samples.…”

“…5 To date, most research during infancy has focused on differences between infants who were breast versus formula fed, as well as the impact of the timing and sequence of solid food introduction during the transition from a milk-based diet to one that incorporates solid foods. 6 Evidence remains mixed regarding the associations between breastfeeding and risk of infant adiposity, and most 7 but not all 6 research suggests that introduction of solid foods prior to 4-months of age (i.e., early introduction based on recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics 8,9 ) is associated with greater risk of excess adiposity during childhood. Although timing of food introduction may be an important factor for the development of healthy weight trajectories, it is unknown if the quality of the food that is being introduced influences this risk.…”

Complementary Feeding in Developed Countries: The 3 Ws (When, What, and Why?)

“…There is an inverse relationship between breastfeeding and risk of overweight/obesity in early childhood; sustained breastfeeding to 12 months and beyond is associated with a healthy weight status in early childhood. These associations seem to be independent of socioeconomic determinants, maternal prepregnancy BMI, smoking in pregnancy, delivery method, infant birth weight, and age at which solid food was introduced [39].…”