Breastfeeding and decreased risk for childhood obesity

Background Breast milk promotes infant growth and appropriate weight gain, minimizing the risk for malnutrition, and possibly for obesity. Objective To determine the influence of infant breastfeeding practices on the risk for obesity in children aged 6 to 8 years. Methods We conducted a case-control study comparing breastfeeding practices between obese and non-obese children. Subjects were selected from two elementary schools in Yogyakarta. Case subjects had body mass index (BMI)-for-age <::: + 2 SD (WHO 2007 growth reference curve). Control subjects had BMIfor- age SD between-2and+1 SD, and were matched for age and gender to the case subjects. Subjects' mothers filled questionnaires on their breastfeeding practices. Results We recruited 68 pairs of obese and non-obese subjects, 4 7 (69%) pairs of boys and 21 (31 %) pairs of girls. The mean duration of breastfeeding in the obese group was shorter than that of the non-obese group, 12.9 months (SD 9.78) vs. 16.1 months (8.39), respectively, a mean difference of 3.24 months (95% CI 0.14 to 6.32). Partially breastfed and formula-fed children had significantly higher odds for obesity compared to that of exclusively breastfed children, OR4.70 (95% CI 3.96 to 5.43) for partial breastfeeding and 6.20 (95% CI 4.67 to 7.73) for formula feeding. The risk for obesity also declined with longer durations of breastfeeding. Conclusion Exclusive infant breastfeeding and longer duration of breastfeeding lowered the risk for childhood obesity in children aged 6-8 years. [Paediatr lndones. 2012;52: 1-5]