ARE BREASTFED INFANTS LESS LIKELY TO BECOME OVERWEIGHT?

Although there are several reasons why breastfeeding might reduce the chances of childhood overweight, the research on the topic has not led to a clear-cut answer. In this article, the author revisits the question by examining the findings from 11 studies meeting certain criteria. All of the studies included at least 100 per group and follow-up measurements after 3 years of age. However, not all of them were able to take into account the mother’s body size, which is strongly linked to the child’s weight status.

Eight of the 11 studies found a significant relationship between breastfeeding and overweight. Although breastfeeding was defined differently across the studies, children who had been breastfed were 21 to 34% less likely to be overweight at follow-up than formula-fed individuals. Longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding was associated with a stronger effect on overweight in some, but not all, studies. Later follow-up of the children seemed to show the greatest effect, suggesting that any early programming due to breastfeeding may not become apparent until the adolescent growth spurt occurs.

How might breastfeeding influence weight status during childhood? One possibility is that breast-fed infants may learn to self-regulate their energy intakes better than formula-fed infants. More research is needed to determine whether such differences in self-regulation exist between breast- and formula-fed infants and persist into childhood. Another possibility is that early mode of feeding may affect plasma levels of insulin and/or leptin and have implications for appetite, fat deposition, and weight gain. Finally, one cannot rule out the possibility that the mother’s decision to breastfeed is a marker for an overall healthier lifestyle or a family environment that helps support a more normal pattern of child growth.

In conclusion, breastfeeding appears to reduce the risk of childhood overweight to a moderate extent. Although the effect may be small in comparison to other factors that influence overweight, the role of breastfeeding is important to consider in interventions to prevent overweight in children.

Source: Dewey KG. Is breastfeeding protective against childhood obesity? J Hum Lact 2003; 19 (1): 9-18.

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