Infant feeding in relation to eating patterns in the second year of life and weight status in the fourth year

• Published in: Public health nutrition 2012-09, Vol.15 (9), p.1705-1714
• Main Authors: Abraham, Elizheeba C, Godwin, Jon, Sherriff, Andrea, Armstrong, Julie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Babies; Body Weight; Breast Feeding; Breastfeeding & lactation; Caregivers; Child, Preschool; Children & youth; Cluster Analysis; Cohort Studies; Datasets; Diet; Eating behavior; Feeding; Feeding Behavior; Hot Topic – Nutrition for infants up to pre-school children Nutrition and health; Humans; Infant; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Infants; Logistic Models; Longitudinal Studies; Nutrition research; Obesity; Obesity - epidemiology; Obesity - metabolism; Prevalence; Scotland - epidemiology; Socioeconomic Factors; Variables
• ISSN: 1368-9800; 1475-2727
• DOI: 10.1017/S1368980012002686

To explore associations of early infant feeding with (i) eating patterns in the second year of life and (ii) weight status in the fourth year of life in a prospective cohort of children in Scotland. Growing Up in Scotland (GUS) longitudinal birth cohort study (2005-2008). Scotland, UK. Children aged 9-12 months (n 5217) followed through to 45-48 months. Infant feeding was associated with eating patterns, defined by using SPSS two-step cluster analysis, in the second year of life. Children who were ever breast-fed compared with never breast-fed (adjusted OR = 1·48, 95 % CI 1·27, 1·73) were more likely to have a positive eating pattern (Cluster 2). Children who started complementary feeding at 4-5 months or 6-10 months compared with 0-3 months (adjusted OR = 1·32, 95 % CI 1·09, 1·59 or AOR = 1·50, 95 % CI 1·19, 1·89) were more likely to belong to Cluster 2. Breast-feeding was negatively associated with being overweight or obese in the fourth year of life compared with no breast-feeding (adjusted OR = 0·81, 95 % CI 0·81, 1·01). Introduction of complementary feeding at 4-5 months compared with 0-3 months was negatively associated with being overweight or obese (adjusted OR = 0·74, 95 % CI 0·57, 0·97). Breast-feeding and introduction of complementary feeding after 4 months were associated with a positive eating pattern in the second year of life. Introduction of complementary feeding at 4-5 months compared with 0-3 months was negatively associated with being overweight or obese.