Breastfeeding has been associated with early infant food preferences, but less is known about how breastfeeding is associated with later child diet. The objective of this study was to assess whether any and exclusive breastfeeding duration are associated with child diet at 6 years.
We linked data from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II and Year 6 Follow-Up. We used approximately monthly questionnaires throughout infancy to calculate any and exclusive breastfeeding duration (n = 1355). We calculated median daily frequency of intake of water, milk, 100% juice, fruits, vegetables, sugar-sweetened beverages, sweets, and savory snacks at 6 years from a dietary screener and examined frequency of consumption of each food or beverage group by any and exclusive breastfeeding duration. We used separate multivariable logistic regression models to calculate odds of consuming more than the median daily frequency of intake of food or beverage items, adjusting for confounders.
Intake of milk, sweets, and savory snacks at 6 years was not associated with any or exclusive breastfeeding duration in unadjusted analyses. Frequency of consumption of water, fruits, and vegetables was positively associated, and intake of sugar-sweetened beverages was inversely associated with any and exclusive breastfeeding duration in adjusted models; 100% juice consumption was inversely associated with exclusive breastfeeding duration only.
Among many other health benefits, breastfeeding is associated with a number of healthier dietary behaviors at age 6. The association between breastfeeding and child diet may be an important factor to consider when examining associations between breastfeeding and child obesity and chronic diseases.
Comments
Another Risk for Artificially Fed Infants
Once again, research has shown another amazing health benefit of breastmilk. The results of this study are truly remarkable. Not only can it prevent several serious chronic diseases and make kids smarter; it has now been scientifically proven by researchers from the CDC that simply feeding children breastmilk as infants can make them choose water over soda and enjoy eating their vegetables.
One wonders what the mechanisms behind this association might be.
Might there be a component of breastmilk that makes children dislike sugary beverages and choose healthy foods later in life? Or, is there an ingredient in infant formula that works like some kind of addictive drug that makes young children prefer soda and kool-aid over water and decline to eat vegetables?
The authors mention that it might be possible that women who breastfeed (who the study found were on the whole more educated, had higher incomes, and ate more fruits and vegetables themselves) might not offer their children soda and offer them more fruits and vegetables.
But, I really don't think that the researchers felt that this was the case because this theory was not apparent or stressed in the conclusion, and they did not feel it necessary to ask the parents in the study what beverages and foods were offered to their children.
I must say that I wholeheartedly agree with the conclusion that the researchers came to on this one. It just makes perfect sense to attribute the association of breastfed babies and better nutrition to the breastmilk and not their parents. Really, what influence can parents have on what their children are eating, especially at the age of six? Most six year old children spend quite a bit of time planning, shopping and preparing snacks and meals for themselves, I know mine did.
Thank you again to the CDC and Pediatrics for publishing this this landmark study, which uncovers yet another long-term health benefit of breastfeeding. I hope that health professionals will take note of this important scientific discovery and be sure to warn new mothers that if they do not choose to breastfeed (and stick with it), not only are they putting their children at risk for asthma, obesity, diabetes, and low IQ, they will be predisposing their children for poor eating habits for years to come.
Conflict of Interest:
None declared