This is the latest version of this eprint.
Gibson, L.A., Hernandez, M., Kelly, M. et al. (1 more author) (2017) The Effects of Breastfeeding on Childhood BMI: A Propensity Score Matching Approach. Journal of Public Health, 39 (4). e152-e160. ISSN 1741-3842
Abstract
Background Many studies have found a statistical association between breastfeeding and childhood adiposity. This paper investigates whether breastfeeding has an effect on subsequent childhood body mass index (BMI) using propensity scores to account for confounding.
Methods We use data from the Millennium Cohort Study, a nationally representative UK cohort survey, which contains detailed information on infant feeding and childhood BMI. Propensity score matching is used to investigate the mean BMI in children breastfed exclusively and partially for different durations of time.
Results We find statistically significant influences of breastfeeding on childhood BMI, particularly in older children, when breastfeeding is prolonged and exclusive. At 7 years, children who were exclusively breastfed for 16 weeks had a BMI 0.28 kg/m 2 (95% confidence interval 0.07 to 0.49) lower than those who were never breastfed, a 2% reduction from the mean BMI of 16.6 kg/m 2 .
Conclusions For this young cohort, even small effects of breastfeeding on BMI could be important. In order to reduce BMI, breastfeeding should be encouraged as part of wider lifestyle intervention. This evidence could help to inform public health bodies when creating public health guidelines and recommendations.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Authors/Creators: |
|
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Faculty of Public Health. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. |
Dates: |
|
Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health (Sheffield) > School of Health and Related Research (Sheffield) > ScHARR - Sheffield Centre for Health and Related Research |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 19 Apr 2016 16:05 |
Last Modified: | 29 Jan 2018 09:51 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdw093 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Oxford University Press |
Series Name: | HEDS Discussion Paper Series |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1093/pubmed/fdw093 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:97832 |
Available Versions of this Item
-
The effects of breastfeeding on childhood BMI: a propensity score matching approach. (deposited 21 Sep 2016 10:27)
- The Effects of Breastfeeding on Childhood BMI: A Propensity Score Matching Approach. (deposited 19 Apr 2016 16:05) [Currently Displayed]