Breastfeeding is associated with reduced risks of central obesity and hypertension in young school-aged children: a large, population-based study

Dan Lin; Didi Chen; Jun Huang; Yun Li; Xiaosa Wen; Ping Ou; Huijing Shi

doi:10.1186/s13006-023-00581-1

Breastfeeding is associated with reduced risks of central obesity and hypertension in young school-aged children: a large, population-based study

Int Breastfeed J. 2023 Sep 11;18(1):52. doi: 10.1186/s13006-023-00581-1.

Authors

Dan Lin^{1

2}, Didi Chen^{3

4}, Jun Huang⁵, Yun Li⁵, Xiaosa Wen^{3

4}, Ping Ou¹, Huijing Shi⁶

Affiliations

¹ Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Fuzhou, China.
² Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
³ Minhang Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China.
⁴ Minhang Branch, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
⁵ Minhang Maternal and Child Health Centre, Shanghai, China.
⁶ Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. hjshi@fudan.edu.cn.

Abstract

Background: Previous studies examined the effects of breastfeeding on measured values of body circumferences or blood pressure during childhood. However, limited data are available for the association between child feeding and a specific disease diagnosed as central obesity or hypertension. Hence, we aimed to examine whether the type and duration of breastfeeding are associated with obesity/central obesity or hypertension in young school-aged children.

Methods: We matched the data obtained from a cross-sectional survey in 2019 with retrospective breastfeeding information recorded in the database. Heights, weights, waist circumferences, and blood pressures of 8480 children in first grade of primary schools in Shanghai, China were measured to diagnose obesity, central obesity, and hypertension. Data on child feeding was collected retrospectively from clinical records. Associations between the type/duration of breastfeeding and children's measured values of body mass index, waist circumference, and blood pressure were analysed by linear regression. Associations between the type/duration of breastfeeding and risks of obesity, central obesity, and hypertension were analysed by generalised linear models.

Results: Breastfeeding duration was inversely associated with blood pressure values in children in the first grade. Each month's increase in the duration of any breastfeeding was associated with a 0.07 mmHg decrease in systolic blood pressure (P < 0.01) and a 0.05 mmHg decrease in diastolic blood pressure (P < 0.01). Any breastfeeding > one month was associated with a reduced risk of hypertension (adjusted risk ratio 0.84; 95% CI 0.73, 0.96, P = 0.01). Exclusive breastfeeding > one month was associated with a reduced risk of central obesity (adjusted risk ratio 0.76; 95% CI: 0.60, 0.96, P = 0.02). Any breastfeeding > 12 months was linked with a lower risk of hypertension (adjusted risk ratio 0.83; 95% CI 0.70, 0.98, P = 0.03).

Conclusions: Lack of breastfeeding is associated with higher risks of central obesity and hypertension during middle childhood. As a potential component of the public health strategy to reduce population levels of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, breastfeeding could be a vital prevention strategy.

Keywords: Blood pressure; Body mass index; Breastfeeding; Central obesity; Childhood; Hypertension; Obesity.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Breast Feeding
Child
China / epidemiology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Hypertension* / epidemiology
Obesity
Obesity, Abdominal* / epidemiology
Obesity, Abdominal* / etiology
Retrospective Studies