Breastfeeding moderates childhood obesity risk associated with prenatal exposure to excessive gestational weight gain

Abstract Gaining excessive gestational weight may increase obesity risk in the offspring, while breastfeeding lowers that risk. Using data from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Programme for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) in Southern California, we examined the associations between gestational...

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Main Authors: Susana L. Matias, Christopher E. Anderson, Maria Koleilat
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023-10-01
Series:Maternal and Child Nutrition
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13545
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author Susana L. Matias
Christopher E. Anderson
Maria Koleilat
author_facet Susana L. Matias
Christopher E. Anderson
Maria Koleilat
author_sort Susana L. Matias
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Gaining excessive gestational weight may increase obesity risk in the offspring, while breastfeeding lowers that risk. Using data from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Programme for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) in Southern California, we examined the associations between gestational weight gain (GWG), breastfeeding during infancy and childhood obesity at 2–4 years, and determined whether breastfeeding moderated the association between GWG and childhood obesity. GWG was based on weight measurements collected during the first trimester and within a month before delivery. GWG values were standardized by gestational age (GWG z‐scores), per maternal prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and categorized into tertiles. Fully breastfeeding duration was determined by WIC infant package data indicating the amount of infant formula received monthly. Children's length (or height) and weight measurements were used to calculate BMI‐for‐age z‐scores and identify obesity (z‐score ≥ 95th percentile). Multivariable linear and modified Poisson regression analyses were conducted. Fully breastfeeding moderated the association between GWG z‐scores tertile and obesity in the offspring. Each additional month of fully breastfeeding was associated with 3%–5% obesity risk reduction for each age group and GWG z‐scores tertile, except at age 4 years for children whose mothers had low GWG z‐scores (tertile 1). Shorter fully breastfeeding duration was associated with greater obesity risk among children of mothers with high GWG z‐scores (tertile 3), but not for those whose mothers had low GWG z‐scores. Longer fully breastfeeding duration may provide greater protection against obesity among children at higher risk due to intrauterine exposure to high gestational weight gain.
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spelling doaj.art-c6596d2ad8d5468ea53fc3b30231426e2023-09-07T12:25:29ZengWileyMaternal and Child Nutrition1740-86951740-87092023-10-01194n/an/a10.1111/mcn.13545Breastfeeding moderates childhood obesity risk associated with prenatal exposure to excessive gestational weight gainSusana L. Matias0Christopher E. Anderson1Maria Koleilat2Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology University of California Berkeley California USAPublic Health Foundation Enterprises WIC Irwindale California USADepartment of Public Health California State University Fullerton California USAAbstract Gaining excessive gestational weight may increase obesity risk in the offspring, while breastfeeding lowers that risk. Using data from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Programme for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) in Southern California, we examined the associations between gestational weight gain (GWG), breastfeeding during infancy and childhood obesity at 2–4 years, and determined whether breastfeeding moderated the association between GWG and childhood obesity. GWG was based on weight measurements collected during the first trimester and within a month before delivery. GWG values were standardized by gestational age (GWG z‐scores), per maternal prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and categorized into tertiles. Fully breastfeeding duration was determined by WIC infant package data indicating the amount of infant formula received monthly. Children's length (or height) and weight measurements were used to calculate BMI‐for‐age z‐scores and identify obesity (z‐score ≥ 95th percentile). Multivariable linear and modified Poisson regression analyses were conducted. Fully breastfeeding moderated the association between GWG z‐scores tertile and obesity in the offspring. Each additional month of fully breastfeeding was associated with 3%–5% obesity risk reduction for each age group and GWG z‐scores tertile, except at age 4 years for children whose mothers had low GWG z‐scores (tertile 1). Shorter fully breastfeeding duration was associated with greater obesity risk among children of mothers with high GWG z‐scores (tertile 3), but not for those whose mothers had low GWG z‐scores. Longer fully breastfeeding duration may provide greater protection against obesity among children at higher risk due to intrauterine exposure to high gestational weight gain.https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13545breastfeedingCaliforniachildhood obesitygestational weight gaininfant feedingpregnancy
spellingShingle Susana L. Matias
Christopher E. Anderson
Maria Koleilat
Breastfeeding moderates childhood obesity risk associated with prenatal exposure to excessive gestational weight gain
Maternal and Child Nutrition
breastfeeding
California
childhood obesity
gestational weight gain
infant feeding
pregnancy
title Breastfeeding moderates childhood obesity risk associated with prenatal exposure to excessive gestational weight gain
title_full Breastfeeding moderates childhood obesity risk associated with prenatal exposure to excessive gestational weight gain
title_fullStr Breastfeeding moderates childhood obesity risk associated with prenatal exposure to excessive gestational weight gain
title_full_unstemmed Breastfeeding moderates childhood obesity risk associated with prenatal exposure to excessive gestational weight gain
title_short Breastfeeding moderates childhood obesity risk associated with prenatal exposure to excessive gestational weight gain
title_sort breastfeeding moderates childhood obesity risk associated with prenatal exposure to excessive gestational weight gain
topic breastfeeding
California
childhood obesity
gestational weight gain
infant feeding
pregnancy
url https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13545
work_keys_str_mv AT susanalmatias breastfeedingmoderateschildhoodobesityriskassociatedwithprenatalexposuretoexcessivegestationalweightgain
AT christophereanderson breastfeedingmoderateschildhoodobesityriskassociatedwithprenatalexposuretoexcessivegestationalweightgain
AT mariakoleilat breastfeedingmoderateschildhoodobesityriskassociatedwithprenatalexposuretoexcessivegestationalweightgain