ASSOCIATION BETWEEN BREASTFEEDING AND OVERWEIGHT/OBESITY IN SCHOOLCHILDREN AGED 7-14 YEARS

Rev Paul Pediatr. 2021 Feb 24:39:e2020076. doi: 10.1590/1984-0462/2021/39/2020076. eCollection 2021.
[Article in English, Portuguese]

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of breastfeeding (BF) and the association between occurrence/duration of BF and overweight/obesity in schoolchildren aged 7-14 years.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, conducted in 2012-2013, on schoolchildren aged 7-14 years from Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Southern Brazil. Weight and height were measured according to procedures of the World Health Organization. Breastfeeding and sociodemographic data were obtained from a questionnaire responded by parents/guardians. BF was categorized as a dichotomous variable (yes/no) and according to duration (months). Nutritional status was evaluated according to the Z score of the body mass index per age for sex and it was categorized into two groups: normal weight (<Z score+1) and overweight/obesity (≥Z score+1). The adjusted analysis was performed by logistic regression in two age strata (age groups of 7-10 and 11-14 years).

Results: 6.6% of schoolchildren had never breastfed; 16.8% had been breastfed for ≤3 months; 16.7%, for 4-6 months; and 59.9%, for ≥7 months. No statistically significant differences were found in the occurrence and duration of BF between the age groups. The prevalence of overweight/obesity was 34.2%. For age groups (7-10 and 11-14 years), the prevalence of overweight/obesity was 36.7% and 29.8%, respectively. Chance of overweight/obesity for the age group of 7-10 years was lower among schoolchildren who were breastfed (OR=0.54; 95%CI 0.33-0.88), when compared with those who never breastfed. When categorized, the chance of overweight/obesity in the age group of 7-10 years was lower for duration of BF ≤3 months (OR=0.41; 95%CI 0.20-0.83), and 4-6 months (OR=0.48; 95%CI 0.28-0.82) when compared with children who never breastfed.

Conclusions: BF for at least six months was associated with a lower chance of overweight/obesity for schoolchildren aged 7-10 years. No association was found for schoolchildren aged 11-14 years.

Objetivo:: Investigar prevalência e duração de aleitamento materno (AM) e sua associação com sobrepeso/obesidade em escolares de 7-14 anos.

Métodos:: Estudo transversal, realizado em 2012-2013, com escolares de 7-14 anos de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina. Peso e altura foram mensurados segundo preconizado pela Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS). Dados sociodemográficos e sobre AM foram obtidos por questionários enviados aos responsáveis/cuidadores. A variável amamentação foi analisada como dicotômica (sim/não) e por duração (em meses). O perfil antropométrico foi avaliado por escore Z do índice de massa corporal (IMC) para a idade, segundo sexo, categorizado em: normal (<escore Z+1) e sobrepreso/obesidade (≥escore Z+1). Análises ajustadas foram realizadas (regressão logística) em dois estratos etários (7-10 e 11-14 anos).

Resultados:: 6,6% dos escolares nunca tinham sido amamentados, 16,8% foram amamentados por ≤3 meses, 16,7% por 4-6 meses e 59,9% por ≥7 meses. Não houve diferença estatística de ocorrência/duração de AM entre os grupos etários. A prevalência de sobrepeso/obesidade foi 34,2%. Nos grupos etários (7-10 e 11-14 anos), a prevalência foi 36,7% e 29,8%, respectivamente. A chance de sobrepeso/obesidade nos escolares de 7-10 anos foi menor entre aqueles que tinham sido amamentados (OR=0,54; IC95% 0,33-0,88), comparando com os nunca amamentados. Quando categorizada, a chance de ter sobrepeso/obesidade nos escolares de 7-10 anos foi menor quando a duração do AM foi ≤3 meses (OR=0,41; IC95% 0,20-0,83) e 4-6 meses (OR=0,48; IC95% 0,28-0,82), em comparação à ausência de AM.

Conclusões:: AM por pelo menos seis meses foi associado com menor chance de sobrepeso/obesidade para escolares de 7-10 anos. Não foi observada associação para o grupo 11-14 anos.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Body Height / physiology
  • Body Mass Index
  • Body Weight / physiology
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Breast Feeding / adverse effects
  • Breast Feeding / statistics & numerical data*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Child Nutrition Sciences / statistics & numerical data
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mothers / statistics & numerical data
  • Nutritional Status / physiology*
  • Obesity / epidemiology*
  • Obesity / etiology
  • Overweight / epidemiology*
  • Overweight / etiology
  • Prevalence
  • Surveys and Questionnaires / statistics & numerical data
  • Time Factors