[Breast feeding: can protect against childhood obesity?]

ABSTRACT

Obesity is a multifactorial disease resulting from complex interaction between genes and environment. Early infant nutrition constitutes one of the environmental determinants of infantile obesity. The effect of breast-feeding on the development of obesity in the child was the subject of many studies the results of which are still controversial. We realized this case-control study to search for an association between breastfeeding and obesity in childhood. Our study included 92 children [46 obese and 46 with normal weight]. Age, sex, socio-economic level and birth weight were comparable in the two groups. Our results show a significant relationship between obesity and breastfeeding [Odds Ratio=0.23, p=0,01]. This protective effect of breastfeeding persists after adjustment for the family history of obesity [OR=0.18, P<0,01]. Although this association is not an evidence for a link of causality, the promotion of breastfeeding is recommended for the prevention of childhood obesity