Assessing the association between breastfeeding, type of childbirth and family structure with childhood obesity: results from an observational study among 10–12 years old children

Abstract

This study examined the association between breastfeeding, type of childbirth, and family structure with childhood obesity. During 2014–2016, 1728 Greek students attending primary schools and their parents were enrolled. Children’s weight status was measured and classified according to the International Obesity Task Force criteria. A self-administered questionnaire assessing the type of childbirth, the family structure, and several perinatal and demographic characteristics was used. Factors associated with higher breastfeeding rates were the type of childbirth, high maternal educational level, and nuclear family structure. No association was found between childhood obesity and type of childbirth (p = 0.64) and family structure (p = 0.26). Although the short-term beneficial effects of breastfeeding on childhood obesity are undeniable and it is of great importance to all health professionals to promote breastfeeding, no significant long-term effects on obesity in adolescence were observed. More studies are needed in order to elucidate the role of breastfeeding in obesity status in adolescence.

Keywords:

• Breastfeeding
• children
• overweight
• obesity
• public health

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank all the students and parents who took part in the research. Also, they would like to thank all the teachers and school principals who contributed to the sampling process and data collection. Moreover, the authors would like to acknowledge and thank the field investigators of the study: Marialena Kordoni, Anna Velentza, Magdalini Mesimeri, Ilias Kokoris, Athina Fregoglou, Vasiliki Maragou, Marina Mitrogiorgou, Rania Baroucha, Dimitra Kroustalli, for their support and assistance with the data collection.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, [DBP], upon reasonable request.