Breast-feeding, rapid growth in the first year of life and excess weight at the age of 2 years: the 3D Cohort Study

Abstract

Objective: To assess relationships between breast-feeding, rapid growth in the first year of life and overweight/obesity status at the age of 2 years. Design: As part of an observational, longitudinal study beginning in early pregnancy, multivariable logistic regressions were used to assess associations between breast-feeding duration (total and exclusive) and rapid weight gain (RWG) between birth and 1 year of age, and to determine predictors of overweight/obesity status at the age of 2 years. Setting: Nine hospitals located in the province of Quebec, Canada. Participants: A sample of 1599 term infants who participated in the 3D Cohort Study. Results: Children having RWG in the first year and those having excess weight at the age of 2 years accounted for 28 % and < 10 %, respectively. In multivariable models, children breastfed < 6 months and from 6 months to < 1 year were, respectively, 2.5 times (OR 2.45; 95 % CI 1.76, 3.41) and 1.8 times (OR 1.78; 95 % CI 1.29, 2.45) more likely to show RWG up to 1 year of age compared to children breastfed ≥ 1 year. Children exclusively breastfed < 3 months had significantly greater odds of RWG in the first year (OR 1.94; 95 % CI 1.25, 3.04) compared to children exclusively breastfed for ≥ 6 months. Associations between breast-feeding duration (total or exclusive) and excess weight at the age of 2 years were not detected. RWG in the first year was found to be the main predictor of excess weight at the age of 2 years (OR 6.98; 95 % CI 4.35, 11.47). Conclusions: The potential beneficial effects of breast-feeding on rate of growth in the first year of life suggest that interventions promoting breast-feeding are relevant for obesity prevention early in life.