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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Sandra B. Procter, MS, RD and Carol Ann Holcomb, PhD. Human Nutrition, Kansas State University, 204 Justin Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506, 785.532.1675, procter@humec.ksu.edu

Objectives. We examined if increased duration of breastfeeding is associated with decreased risk of overweight in a low-income population of Kansas 4-year-olds. Methods. We linked Kansas data from the Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System (PedNSS) and the Pregnancy Nutrition Surveillance System (PNSS), 1998 – 2002, to determine duration of breastfeeding (up to 98 months) and weight status at age 4. Using the 2000 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth charts, overweight at four years of age was defined as body mass index (BMI)-for-age equal to or above the 95th percentile. Our linked analysis included 3,693 children. Logistic regression was performed to determine the odds of being overweight at each level of breastfeeding duration. Results. The proportion of overweight children never breastfed was 17.1% compared to 13.6% for overweight children breastfed 52 weeks or longer. While mean BMI remained relatively constant across all breastfeeding duration levels, standard deviation markedly decreased (sd = 7.69 vs. sd = 1.95) for children breastfed longest. After adjusting for gender, ethnicity and birth weight, duration of breastfeeding showed inverse, protective association with risk of overweight at age 4. The adjusted odds ratio of overweight by breastfeeding for 24 to 51 weeks was 0.67 (95% CI = 0.47 – 0.94) and for ≥52 weeks versus never breastfed was 0.73 (95% CI = 0.54 – 0.99). Conclusion. Increased duration of breastfeeding – six months or longer – is associated with reduced risk of overweight among 4-year-olds in Kansas. Breastfeeding duration is one public health emphasis that addresses child overweight before it occurs.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Identify the relationship between breastfeeding duration and child overweight
• Recognize potential application of this information in development and delivery of targeted breastfeeding education

Keywords: Breastfeeding, Low-Income

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered

Handout (.pdf format, 116.4 kb)