Breastfeeding to Reduce the Risk of Childhood Overweight and Obesity

Obesity has become one of the more serious health challenges within the twenty-first
century.1 This assertion suggests the need of modifiable behaviors to be counted for in order to
decrease this growing issue. Understanding that the majority of prevention comes within the
early stages of life is detrimental to the behaviors and choices that are embedded within a childs
own life. Some research has specified the decision to breastfeed as one modifiable health
behavior. Besides the contribution to numerous positive health outcomes, it is also suggested that
the strongest breastfeeding effects against childhood obesity are during adolescence, expressing
the benefit extends many years into a childs life.2 Breastfeeding may be associated with lower
risk of obesity in early childhood.
According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association,
children in their toddler years of life were studied amongst the association of being breastfed
when they were younger, and their risk of being overweight. The study consisted of 3,461
children, ages 3-5 years, in which 94.1% of these children were measured for height and
weight3.Infant questions on feeding practices were included on if the child was breastfed, the
age, and when the it was completely stopped. Infant feeding was defined on the period of time in
months that the infant was fully breastfed3. Groups were classified as never breastfed and fully
breastfed for two months or less, three to five months, six to eight months, and nine months or
more3. Since BMI is the worldwide screening for overweight in children, this was calculated for.
In context to feeding, 46% never breastfed, 25% were fully breastfed for two months or less, and
10% were fully breastfed for three to five months, six to eight months, and for nine months or
more. Studies found that there was a reduction in the prevalence of being at risk of being
overweight if ever breastfed3. In conclusion, there was a 37% reduction in being at risk of

overweight amongst those who were fully breastfed compared to those who were not breastfed3.
This signifies sufficient evidence in suggesting that the benefits of breastfeeding and weight
association in regards of the duration.
The Journal of BioMed Central Public Health investigated the association between
breastfeeding duration and weight status in a sample of children and adolescents. Data for the
interviews were collected face to face visit via computer and then another telephone interview
was conducted one to three weeks later. 2,066 children completed both of these interviews and
were formed for the final sample. The body mass index for each of these children were collected.
The majority of these children were breastfed, and half were breastfed for more than six months.
Compared to the children that had never been breastfed during infancy, those who were breastfed
for six or more months were considerably less likely to be overweight, 36% less likely to be
overweight, 49% less likely to be obese.4 Aside from the other beneficial health outcomes that
this study proposed, breastfeeding for six months or more exerted to be vigilant concerning later
overweight and obesity.
According to the Canadian Journal of Public Health, children born in 2001 who were in
pre-kindergarten were studied in efforts to classify the weight status of children in adverse to
being breastfed. Infant feeding information was taken through a survey. The questionnaire
consisted of information on demographics, instant feeding practices, and other lifestyle health
practices- mothers education, childs sex, birth weight etc.5 Age in years, as well as body mass
index was also collected. To analyze the relationships of breastfeeding and both obesity and
overweight were conducted using logistic regression models, and by calculating ratios, executing
for variables correlating with overweight/obesity in children.5 74% of women breastfed, and 43%
breastfed for three months. After proceeding with the logistic regression models, exclusive

breastfeeding, including only up to three months, was established to be conservative of preschool

obesity.5 65%, 19%, and 16% of the preschool children were of normal weight, overweight, and
obese, correspondingly.5 This study concluded that efforts should be made in the decision of
breastfeeding in the early months of life.
The prevalence of childhood obesity is a major concern. Several factors may contribute to
childhood obesity, but the fundamental benefit of the shielding effects of breastfeeding against
obesity that exceeds into adolescence is probable. As research suggests, children who were not
breastfed were subjected to a greater risk in overweight and obesity, compared to those who were
breastfed for at least three months. Although, there has been vital research done on this topic,
more studies can be continued in advancing on this implication.

References
1. Childhood overweight and obesity. World Health Organization.
http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/childhood/en/. Accessed September 11, 2016.
2. Strong G. Breastfeeding to Reduce the Risk of Childhood Obesity. The International
Journal of Childhood Education. http://pl8cg5fc8w.search.serialssolutions.com/?
ctx_ver=z39.88-2004. Accessed September 12, 2016.
3. Hediger M, Overpeck M, Kuczmarski R, Juan J. Association Between Infant
Breastfeeding and Overweight in Young Children. The Journal of the American Medical
Association. May 2001. http://jama.jamanetwork.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/article.aspx?
articleid=193838. Accessed September 11, 2016.
4. Scott J, Ng S, Cobiac L. The relationship between breastfeeding and weight status in a
national sample of Australian children and adolescentss . BMC Public Health. February
2012. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmc3311145/. Accessed September 11,
2016.
5. Twells L, Newhook L. Can breastfeeding reduce the likelihood of childhood obesity in
some regions . Canadian Journal of Public Health. 2016.
http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/stable/pdf/41996098.pdf.