Qiying Song1, Yuning Yang2, Xiaoli Liu1, Chenlu Yang1, Xiaona Huang2, Hong Zhou3, Yan Wang4. 1. Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, No.38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China. 2. United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund China, Beijing, 100600, China. 3. Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, No.38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China. hongzhou@bjmu.edu.cn. 4. Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, No.38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China. wangyan@bjmu.edu.cn.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To describe the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children under 5 years old, assess the indicators of breastfeeding practices, and explore the associations between breastfeeding practices and early childhood overweight/obesity. METHODS: The survey was conducted in 20 counties in central and western China in 2016. All children under 5 years old were physically measured for anthropometric data and their breastfeeding practices were obtained through a face-to-face questionnaire interview. We performed logistic regressions to assess the associations of different breastfeeding practices with overweight/obesity. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity among children under 5 years old were 8.7% and 2.6%, respectively. Overall, 93.6% of children were breastfed, while only 20.7% had exclusive breastfeeding under 6 months of age and about half of the children under 5 years old were weaned at 12 months. Compared with children with a duration of breastfeeding ≥ 12 months, children who have been breastfed for < 6 months were significantly associated with a 97% increased risk of overweight/obesity (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.34-2.88, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE: The present study showed that overweight and obesity among children under 5 years old in central and western China remained an important childhood health concern. The rates of most indicators of breastfeeding practices were low, which needed more public attention. Moreover, we found that a shorter duration of breastfeeding was associated with an increased risk of overweight/obesity among children in central and western China.
OBJECTIVES: To describe the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children under 5 years old, assess the indicators of breastfeeding practices, and explore the associations between breastfeeding practices and early childhood overweight/obesity. METHODS: The survey was conducted in 20 counties in central and western China in 2016. All children under 5 years old were physically measured for anthropometric data and their breastfeeding practices were obtained through a face-to-face questionnaire interview. We performed logistic regressions to assess the associations of different breastfeeding practices with overweight/obesity. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity among children under 5 years old were 8.7% and 2.6%, respectively. Overall, 93.6% of children were breastfed, while only 20.7% had exclusive breastfeeding under 6 months of age and about half of the children under 5 years old were weaned at 12 months. Compared with children with a duration of breastfeeding ≥ 12 months, children who have been breastfed for < 6 months were significantly associated with a 97% increased risk of overweight/obesity (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.34-2.88, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE: The present study showed that overweight and obesity among children under 5 years old in central and western China remained an important childhood health concern. The rates of most indicators of breastfeeding practices were low, which needed more public attention. Moreover, we found that a shorter duration of breastfeeding was associated with an increased risk of overweight/obesity among children in central and western China.