title: Maternal obesity and breast-feeding success in a rural population of white women.
abstract: Maternal obesity interferes with the initiation and maintenance of lactation in animal models but it has not been investigated widely in women. We reviewed medical records from a white population to examine the relation between prepregnant overweight [body mass index (BMI; in kg/m2) 26.1-29.0] and obesity (BMI > 29.0) on initiation and duration of breast-feeding. Logistic regression revealed that of those who ever put their infants to the breast (n = 810), women who were overweight [odds ratio (OR) = 2.54, P < 0.05] or obese (OR = 3.65, P < 0.0008) had less success initiating breast-feeding than did their normal-weight counterparts (BMI < 26.1). Proportional-hazards regression revealed higher rates of discontinuation of exclusive breast-feeding in overweight (RR = 1.42, P < 0.04) and obese (RR = 1.43, P < 0.02) women and higher discontinuation of breast-feeding to any extent in overweight (RR = 1.68, P < 0.006) and obese (RR = 1.73, P = 0.001) women. Controlling for parity, socioeconomic status, maternal education, and other factors that often covary with maternal obesity and breast-feeding did not change these results. These results suggest that excessive fatness in the reproductive period may inhibit lactational performance in women.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hilson
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Kjolhede
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007775:Lactation Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D010298:Parity; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012423:Rural Health; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D012923:Social Class; D013997:Time Factors; D044465:White People