Breastfeeding duration and childhood overweight among low-income children in Kansas, 1998-2002
Objectives: We sought to determine whether increased duration of breastfeeding was associated with decreased risk of overweight among 4-year-old children in Kansas families with limited means.
Methods: We linked data on Kansas families from the Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System and Pregnancy Nutrition Surveillance System, 1998 to 2002, to determine breastfeeding duration and weight status at age 4 years. Overweight among 4-year-old children was defined as body mass index-for-age at the 95th percentile and above. Linked analysis included 3692 children. Logistic regression was applied to determine odds of being overweight at each duration of breastfeeding.
Results: Breastfeeding duration considered independently showed a significant protective association with childhood overweight at age 4 years for all non-Hispanics (odds ratio [OR]=0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.55, 0.94)and for Whites only (OR=0.68; CI=0.50, 0.92). When we controlled for other significant risk factors for childhood overweight, the association diminished and was not statistically significant.
Conclusions: Although breastfeeding for longer duration appeared to be protective against overweight among 4-year-old non-Hispanic children, cultural and environmental factors may override this protective benefit.
Reference Information:
Procter, SB and Holcomb, CA. Breastfeeding duration and childhood overweight among low-income children in Kansas, 1998-2002. American Journal of Public Health (2008):98(1)106-110.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 14th, 2008. It is filed under Human Nutrition and is tagged with breastfeeding, children, low-income, overweight, WIC.