Breastfeeding on Weight Changes in Family-based Pediatric Obesity Treatment

[Anil Tuladhar]

Research indicates that breastfeeding may provide protective effects against the development of obesity; however, breastfed children may still become obese because of the obesogenic environment.

This study is designed to examine the effects of retrospective recall of breastfeeding on weight changes in children participating in a 6-month behavioral treatment program for childhood obesity.

The independent variable of breastfeeding was defined as children who were exclusively breastfed for 4 weeks (excluding water or medication) versus those who were never breastfed. Child percent overweight and body mass index changes during 6 and 12 months were evaluated for 94 families based on mother report of breastfeeding status using analysis of covariance, controlling for socioeconomic status and initial child weight status. Data were compiled for secondary analysis from pediatric obesity randomized controlled outcome studies evaluating core components of family-based treatments.

Results showed that, compared with nonbreastfed (formula) children (n = 28), breastfed children (n = 66) showed significantly larger reductions in (mean +/- SEM) percent overweight at 6 months (-15.2 +/- 1.1 vs -10.2 +/- 1.7, p <.05) and 1 year (-10.3 +/- 1.3 vs -5.9 +/- 1.8, p <.05). Similarly, breastfed children showed greater reductions in body mass index at 6 months (-2.1 +/- 0.19 vs -1.1 +/- 0.28) and 1 year (-0.8 +/- 0.23 vs +0.1 +/- 0.32).

Findings suggest the beneficial effects of breastfeeding may extend beyond obesity prevention to include improved outcome in family-based pediatric obesity treatment.