Long-Term Exclusive Breast-Feeding Does Not Prevent Childhood Obesity

An intervention that promoted exclusive breast-feeding did not reduce adiposity.

Breast-feeding is associated with many positive childhood health benefits, but does long-term exclusive breast-feeding reduce the risk for childhood obesity? To find out, investigators measured body-mass index, fat and fat-free mass indices, percent body fat, height, weight, skin-fold thickness, waist circumference, and whole blood insulin-like growth factor–1 (IGF-1) in 14,000 children in Belarus at age 11.5 years who had participated as infants in a breast-feeding promotion program (JW Pediatr Adolesc Med Feb 27 2008).

Compared with infants who were randomized to usual breast-feeding practices, more infants in the intervention group were exclusively breast-feeding at 3 months (43% vs. 6%) and at 6 months (7.5% vs. 0.6%). However, at age 11…

Reviewing Author

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

Long-Term Exclusive Breast-Feeding Does Not Prevent Childhood Obesity

Topics

Reviewing Author