Original Communication
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2005) 59, 1241–1249. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602235; published online 17 August 2005
Relations between high ponderal index at birth, feeding practices and body mass index in infancy
Guarantor: B Lande.
Contributors: BL carried out the data analyses and wrote the manuscript, MBV, LFA, TH and LJ assisted and provided advice during all the stages of the work, MBV provided advice for the statistical analyses, BL, LFA, AB, KUT and G-EB were involved in the design and implementation of the survey. All authors contributed in the discussion and interpretation of the results, and in drafting and editing the manuscript. No conflicts of interest are declared.
B Lande1,2, L F Andersen2, T Henriksen3, A Bærug4, L Johansson1, K U Trygg2, G-EAa Bjørneboe5,6 and M B Veierød7
- 1Department for Nutrition, Directorate for Health and Social Affairs, Oslo, Norway
- 2Department of Nutrition, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rikshospitalet University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- 4National Breastfeeding Centre, Rikshospitalet University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- 5Directorate for Health and Social Affairs, Oslo, Norway
- 6Institute of Community Medicine, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway
- 7Department of Statistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
Correspondence: B Lande, Directorate for Health and Social Affairs, Department for Nutrition, PO Box 7000, St Olavs Plass, N-0130 Oslo, Norway. E-mail: britt.lande@shdir.no
Received 9 August 2004; Revised 14 April 2005; Accepted 8 June 2005; Published online 17 August 2005.
Abstract
Objective:
We compared feeding practices between infants of high ponderal index (PI) at birth (PI above the 90th percentile) and normal PI at birth (PI between 10th and 90th percentiles), and examined how birth size and infant feeding practices were related to body mass index (BMI) at 12 months.
Design:
In a cohort of 3000 infants invited to participate in a national Norwegian dietary survey, 1825 participated both at 6 and 12 months of age, and the present study included those born full term and with a PI (weight/length3) at birth 
10th percentile (n=1441). Data on feeding practices were collected by food-frequency questionnaires, and anthropometrical data were measured by health-care personnel.
Results:
A lower proportion of infants born with high PI were exclusively breastfed for at least 4 months compared with infants born with normal PI (37 and 47%, respectively; P=0.03). Earlier introduction of solid foods and higher consumption of some foods were also observed among infants of high PI. In a multivariate analysis, adjusted mean BMI (kg/m2) at 12 months was higher for infants of high PI at birth than for infants of normal PI (17.6 and 17.0, respectively; P<0.001) and higher for infants exclusively breastfed <3 months than for infants exclusively breastfed 3 months (17.5 and 17.2, respectively; P=0.001).
Conclusions:
High PI at birth was associated with a shorter duration of exclusive breastfeeding. Furthermore, high PI at birth and short-term exclusive breastfeeding were both associated with higher BMI at 12 months.
Sponsorship:
The National Council on Nutrition and Physical Activity (now part of the Directorate for Health and Social Affairs), the Norwegian Food Control Authorities (now part of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority) and the Research Council of Norway.
Keywords:
birth weight, body mass index, breastfeeding, dietary intake, infant-feeding practices, infancy, ponderal index
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