title: Effect of breastfeeding promotion interventions on child growth: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To update a previous systematic review and meta-analyses about the effect of breastfeeding promotion interventions on child growth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies evaluating the effect of any type of breastfeeding promotion intervention on child weight, length (or height) and weight/height (or BMI) were screened. Papers published between 2006 and 2014 were checked using the following databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Lilacs and SciELO.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen studies were added to 19 other studies identified in the previous review, resulting in 35 studies. Meta-analyses of studies reporting on mean weight, length, weight/length or BMI showed that the interventions had no impact on weight or length/height z scores [pooled effect: 0.03 (95% confidence interval: -0.06;0.12) and 0.03 (95% confidence interval: -0.02;0.08), respectively] and had a modest, but significant, reduction in body mass index/weight-for-height z scores [z score mean difference: -0.06 (95% confidence interval: -0.12;0.00)], which was limited to studies from low- and high-incomes settings. For all three outcomes, there was important heterogeneity among studies, which should be taken into account when interpreting the results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Breastfeeding promotion interventions were not associated with significant changes in weight or length, but led to a modest, albeit significant, reduction in body mass index/weight-for-height z scores.
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Programme in Child and Adolescent Health, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elsa R J
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Giugliani
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Programme in Epidemiology, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bernardo L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Horta
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Programme in Epidemiology, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loret de Mola
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Programme in Child and Adolescent Health, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bernardo O
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Lisboa
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Programme in Epidemiology, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cesar G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Victora
mesh_terms: D000569:Americas; D001208:Asia; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D044349:Oceania; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
keywords: Anthropometry; Breastfeeding promotion; Child growth