Breastfeeding, introduction of complementary foods, and adiposity at 5 y of age.
BACKGROUND
Although dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is considered the most accurate measure of adiposity in children, it has rarely been used to examine the relation between infant feeding and adiposity during childhood.


OBJECTIVE
The objective was to ascertain whether adiposity at age 5 y was related to breastfeeding, to the timing of the introduction of complementary foods during infancy, or to both.


METHODS
Body composition was measured in 313 children at age 5 y by using DXA. Data on breastfeeding, formula feeding, and the timing of the introduction of complementary foods were obtained from the mothers when the children were 3 y old. Regression analysis was used to examine the relation between infant feeding and fat mass after adjustment for lean body mass, sex, birth weight, maternal obesity, race, and other sociodemographic variables.


RESULTS
Fifty-three percent of the children were boys, 80% were white, and 20% were black. There was no significant difference in adjusted fat mass between those ever breastfed and those never breastfed (x +/- SE: 4.48 +/- 0.09 and 4.76 +/- 0.17 kg, respectively; P = 0.17). Children who were breastfed for a longer duration and those who were breastfed without concurrent formula feeding did not have significantly lower fat mass than did those children who were never breastfed. Children did not differ significantly in fat mass if they were introduced to complementary foods before or after 4 mo of age (4.49 +/- 0.12 and 4.63 +/- 0.12 kg, respectively; P = 0.42).


CONCLUSIONS
Neither breastfeeding nor the timing of the introduction of complementary foods was associated with adiposity at age 5 y.
Burdette
Hillary L
HL
Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. burdette@email.chop.edu
Whitaker
Robert C
RC
Hall
Waynitra C
WC
Daniels
Stephen R
SR
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods; D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008895:Milk, Human; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D014886:Weaning