Infant feeding practices and children's weight status

Purpose:

Feeding practices for young Canadian children from economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods were examined to determine adherence to infant feeding recommendations and factors associated with children's weight status.

Data for the study were collected from 1996 to 2003 as part of Better Beginnings, Better Futures, a longitudinal primary prevention initiative in Ontario. Study subjects were 546 children at age three months and 483 children at age 48 months.

Mothers who had less than a high school education (odds ratio [OR] = 1.83, confidence interval [CI] = 1.01-3.29) and mothers who did not attend prenatal classes (OR=2.37, CI=1.33-4.24) were more likely to use formula. Mothers who were single parents were three times more likely to have an obese child (OR=3.35, CI=1.39-8.06) than were mothers who were married or with a partner.

Targeted strategies are needed for families as single-parent households were predictive of obesity in young children. Innovative encouragement to participate in prenatal programming for pregnant women who have less than a high school education may improve breastfeeding rates.