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Breastfeeding Practices and Overweight/Obesity Among Children Under 5 Years of Age: A Multistage Random Sampling Survey in Central and Western China

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Abstract

Objectives

To describe the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children under 5 years old, assess the indicators of breastfeeding practices, and explore the associations between breastfeeding practices and early childhood overweight/obesity.

Methods

The survey was conducted in 20 counties in central and western China in 2016. All children under 5 years old were physically measured for anthropometric data and their breastfeeding practices were obtained through a face-to-face questionnaire interview. We performed logistic regressions to assess the associations of different breastfeeding practices with overweight/obesity.

Results

The prevalence of overweight and obesity among children under 5 years old were 8.7% and 2.6%, respectively. Overall, 93.6% of children were breastfed, while only 20.7% had exclusive breastfeeding under 6 months of age and about half of the children under 5 years old were weaned at 12 months. Compared with children with a duration of breastfeeding ≥ 12 months, children who have been breastfed for < 6 months were significantly associated with a 97% increased risk of overweight/obesity (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.34–2.88, P = 0.001).

Conclusions for Practice

The present study showed that overweight and obesity among children under 5 years old in central and western China remained an important childhood health concern. The rates of most indicators of breastfeeding practices were low, which needed more public attention. Moreover, we found that a shorter duration of breastfeeding was associated with an increased risk of overweight/obesity among children in central and western China.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the effort and support of all the participants from 20 surveyed counties of 10 provinces (Sajia and Angren County of Tibet, Chabuchaer and Zhaosu County of Xinjiang, Sinan and Dejiang County of Guizhou, Datong and Huangzhong County of Qinghai, Yulong and Huaping County of Yunnan, Yuexi and Ganluo County of Sichuan, Wen and Qinyang County of Henan, Yudu and Gan County of Jiangxi, She and Quzhou County of Hebei, Hongsibao and Tongxin County of Ningxia).

Funding

This study was funded by UNICEF China (“Health, Nutrition and WASH” [NO. 501]).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, No.38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China

    Qiying Song, Xiaoli Liu, Chenlu Yang, Hong Zhou & Yan Wang

  2. United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund China, Beijing, 100600, China

    Yuning Yang & Xiaona Huang

Authors
  1. Qiying Song
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  2. Yuning Yang
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  3. Xiaoli Liu
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  4. Chenlu Yang
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  5. Xiaona Huang
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  6. Hong Zhou
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  7. Yan Wang
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Correspondence to Hong Zhou or Yan Wang.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

This study was conducted according to the guidelines laid down in the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Ethical Committee of Peking University Health Science Centre.

Informed Consent

Written informed consent was provided by all caregivers of the children prior to their inclusion in the study.

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Song, Q., Yang, Y., Liu, X. et al. Breastfeeding Practices and Overweight/Obesity Among Children Under 5 Years of Age: A Multistage Random Sampling Survey in Central and Western China. Matern Child Health J 24, 998–1007 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-020-02945-z

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