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Breastfeeding during the first 6 months of life, adiposity rebound and overweight/obesity at 8 years of age

International Journal of Obesity volume 40, pages 10–13 (2016)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background:

The question of whether breastfeeding protects the child from obesity is a still debated issue; however, the relationship between early adiposity rebound and higher risk of obesity is well known. This study was aimed at evaluating whether breastfeeding (without formula supplement) during the first 6 months of life delays the time of adiposity rebound and consequently reduces the rates of obesity at the age of 8.

Methods:

This retrospective cohort study included 1812 children born in Gran Canaria in 2004, with follow-up until they were 8 years of age. Anthropometrical data had been taken during routine visits to the doctor and were extracted from medical record databases. Only children with breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life (173 children) and children without breastfeeding (192 children) were included. Children with mixed feeding and children whose data were not available were excluded.

Results:

No body mass index (BMI) differences were found between children with breastfeeding (17.7) or without breastfeeding (17.3) during the first 6 months of life. The percentages of children with normal weight, overweight and obesity were similar in both groups, as well as the age of adiposity rebound breastfeeding 3.61 years; formula 3.64 years). Early adiposity rebound was associated with increased BMI at the age of 8, both in male and female children.

Conclusions:

Breastfeeding during the first 6 months of life was not demonstrated to delay the age of the adiposity rebound, in our study.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to all study participants, their families and health professionals who participated anonymously at work. Also, we are grateful to the Direction of Primary Healthcare of the Gran Canaria Health Area (Canarian Health Service).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nursing, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain

    M D Estévez-González

  2. Department of Mathematics, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain

    A Santana del Pino & P Saavedra-Santana

  3. Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain

    P Henríquez-Sánchez & L Peña-Quintana

  4. Unit of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular Materno-Infantil, Las Palmas, Spain

    L Peña-Quintana

  5. CIBER OBN,, Spain

    L Peña-Quintana

Authors
  1. M D Estévez-González
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M D Estévez-González.

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Estévez-González, M., Santana del Pino, A., Henríquez-Sánchez, P. et al. Breastfeeding during the first 6 months of life, adiposity rebound and overweight/obesity at 8 years of age. Int J Obes 40, 10–13 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2015.228

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2015.228

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