OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between exclusive breast-feeding and childhood overweight. DESIGN: Cross-sectional data are from the baseline survey of the longitudinal cohort study IDEFICS. Exclusive rather than partial breast-feeding is the focus of the study due to the theoretical relationship between exclusive breast-feeding and development of dietary self-regulation. Children's measured heights and weights were used to calculate weight status, while waist-to-height ratio (WtHR) and skinfold measures were examined as alternative indicators of adiposity and fat patterning. SETTING: Examination centres in eight European countries (Italy, Estonia, Cyprus, Belgium, Sweden, Hungary, Germany and Spain). SUBJECTS: The analysis included 14 726 children aged 2-9 years for whom early feeding practices were reported by parents in standardized questionnaires. RESULTS: After controlling for education, income and other potential confounders, breast-feeding exclusively for 4-6 months was protective of overweight (including obesity) when compared with children never exclusively breast-fed (OR = 0·73; 95 % CI 0·63, 0·85) across all measures of overweight. Exclusively breast-feeding for 6 months offered slightly more protection than for 4 and 5 months combined (OR = 0·71; 95 % CI 0·58, 0·85). The associations could not be explained by socio-economic characteristics or maternal overweight. CONCLUSIONS: This multi-country investigation indicated that exclusive breast-feeding for 4-6 months may confer protection against overweight in addition to other known benefits. There was no demonstrated benefit of exclusive breast-feeding for more than 6 months or combination feeding for any duration across all measures of overweight examined.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between exclusive breast-feeding and childhood overweight. DESIGN: Cross-sectional data are from the baseline survey of the longitudinal cohort study IDEFICS. Exclusive rather than partial breast-feeding is the focus of the study due to the theoretical relationship between exclusive breast-feeding and development of dietary self-regulation. Children's measured heights and weights were used to calculate weight status, while waist-to-height ratio (WtHR) and skinfold measures were examined as alternative indicators of adiposity and fat patterning. SETTING: Examination centres in eight European countries (Italy, Estonia, Cyprus, Belgium, Sweden, Hungary, Germany and Spain). SUBJECTS: The analysis included 14 726 children aged 2-9 years for whom early feeding practices were reported by parents in standardized questionnaires. RESULTS: After controlling for education, income and other potential confounders, breast-feeding exclusively for 4-6 months was protective of overweight (including obesity) when compared with children never exclusively breast-fed (OR = 0·73; 95 % CI 0·63, 0·85) across all measures of overweight. Exclusively breast-feeding for 6 months offered slightly more protection than for 4 and 5 months combined (OR = 0·71; 95 % CI 0·58, 0·85). The associations could not be explained by socio-economic characteristics or maternal overweight. CONCLUSIONS: This multi-country investigation indicated that exclusive breast-feeding for 4-6 months may confer protection against overweight in addition to other known benefits. There was no demonstrated benefit of exclusive breast-feeding for more than 6 months or combination feeding for any duration across all measures of overweight examined.
Authors: Stalo Papoutsou; Savvas C Savva; Monica Hunsberger; Hannah Jilani; Nathalie Michels; Wolfgang Ahrens; Michael Tornaritis; Toomas Veidebaum; Dénes Molnár; Alfonso Siani; Luis A Moreno; Charis Hadjigeorgiou Journal: Matern Child Nutr Date: 2017-06-08 Impact factor: 3.092
Authors: Mahmoud Zaqout; Nathalie Michels; Wolfgang Ahrens; Claudia Börnhorst; Dénes Molnár; Luis A Moreno; Gabriele Eiben; Alfonso Siani; Stalo Papoutsou; Toomas Veidebaum; Stefaan De Henauw Journal: Eur J Nutr Date: 2016-10-22 Impact factor: 5.614
Authors: Melissa D Rossiter; Cynthia K Colapinto; Mohammad K A Khan; Jessie-Lee D McIsaac; Patricia L Williams; Sara F L Kirk; Paul J Veugelers Journal: Matern Child Health J Date: 2015-09
Authors: C Parrino; F Vinciguerra; N La Spina; L Romeo; A Tumminia; R Baratta; S Squatrito; R Vigneri; L Frittitta Journal: J Endocrinol Invest Date: 2016-06-16 Impact factor: 4.256
Authors: Anna Reeske; Jacob Spallek; Karin Bammann; Gabriele Eiben; Stefaan De Henauw; Yiannis Kourides; Peter Nagy; Wolfgang Ahrens Journal: PLoS One Date: 2013-04-04 Impact factor: 3.240