Effects of infant feeding practice on weight gain from birth to 3 years.
OBJECTIVE
The influence of infant feeding practices on weight gain during childhood remains unresolved, with few studies adjusting appropriately for confounding factors. This study examined the effect of breastfeeding initiation, breastfeeding duration and age at introduction of solid foods on weight gain from birth to 3 years.


METHODS
Nationally representative prospective study.


METHODS
England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.


METHODS
10,533 3-year-old children from the UK Millennium Cohort Study.


METHODS
Conditional weight gain z-scores from birth to 3 years (adjusted for birthweight); multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the impact of infant feeding practices on this measure after adjustment for confounding factors.


RESULTS
Breastfeeding initiation and breastfeeding duration were significantly associated with weight gain from birth to 3 years. Infants receiving no breast milk grew faster than those whose mothers initiated breastfeeding (adjusted regression coefficient (difference in z-scores) 0.06, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.09), as did those breastfed for less than 4 months (0.05, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.09) versus those breastfed 4 months or longer. Early introduction of solids was not associated with faster weight gain after adjustment for height z-score at 3 years (-0.01, 95% CI -0.04 to 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
Initiating and prolonging breastfeeding may reduce excess weight gain by preschool age. Association of the early introduction of solids with rapid weight gain during early childhood is mediated through childhood stature. Although effects sizes are small, at a population level they are of public health importance as these risk factors are potentially modifiable. Strategies to support mothers to follow internationally recommended infant feeding practices are required.
Griffiths
L J
LJ
MRC Centre of Epidemiology for Child Health, UCL Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK. l.griffiths@ich.ucl.ac.uk
Smeeth
L
L
Hawkins
S Sherburne
SS
Cole
T J
TJ
Dezateux
C
C
D001724:Birth Weight; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014886:Weaning; D015430:Weight Gain