title: Obesity, polycystic ovary syndrome and breastfeeding: an observational study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 9-21% of reproductive-age women. The relations between PCOS, body mass index (BMI) and breastfeeding are unclear. Our aim was to examine breastfeeding in women with and without PCOS and the relation with BMI.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a cross-sectional study set in the general community. Participants are women, aged 31-36 years, from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH), a large community-based study. Data was analyzed from the first child of respondents to Survey five (2009) reporting at least one live born child. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine factors associated with breastfeeding. The main outcome measures studied were breastfeeding initiation and duration and the main explanatory variables included self-reported PCOS and BMI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 4898 women, 6.5% reported PCOS (95% confidence interval 5.8-7.2%). Median duration of breastfeeding was lower in women reporting PCOS (6 months, range 2-10 months) than in women not reporting PCOS (7 months, range 3-12 months) (p = 0.001). On multivariable regression analysis, there was no association between PCOS and breastfeeding outcomes. However, being overweight or obese was associated with not initiating breastfeeding and with breastfeeding for less than 6 months, after adjusting for confounders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High BMI is negatively associated with breastfeeding, whereas PCOS status per se does not appear to be related to breastfeeding initiation and duration, after adjusting for BMI.
authors.affiliation: Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., Australia.|Diabetes and Vascular Medicine Unit, Monash Health, Clayton, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Anju E
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6307-2568
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Joham
authors.affiliation: Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., Australia.|Diabetes and Vascular Medicine Unit, Monash Health, Clayton, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9271-9917
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nanayakkara
authors.affiliation: Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Sanjeeva
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1323-4917
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ranasinha
authors.affiliation: Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., Australia.|Diabetes and Vascular Medicine Unit, Monash Health, Clayton, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2672-0949
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zoungas
authors.affiliation: Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3616-1637
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boyle
authors.affiliation: Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Cheryce L
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3154-4946
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Peta
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0591-471X
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Forder
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4745-8612
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Loxton
authors.affiliation: Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Children's and Women's Health, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Olavs Hospital, University Hospital of Trondheim, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Eszter
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5741-076X
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vanky
authors.affiliation: Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., Australia.|Diabetes and Vascular Medicine Unit, Monash Health, Clayton, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Helena J
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7609-577X
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Teede
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Breastfeeding; body mass index; lactation; obesity; polycystic ovary syndrome