Longer Breastfeeding Is Associated With Healthier Body Mass Index Trajectories and Lower Risk of Overweight and Obesity in Youth Aged 9-12 Years.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The association between breastfeeding and adolescent obesity remains unclear because most previous studies included youth with obesity. We explored these associations from ages 9 to 12 amongst initially healthy weight youth.

Methods

The analytic sample included 4161 youth (10 586 observations across three assessments; all healthy weight at baseline; 50.7% female; 52% breastfed more than 6 months) from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. Linear mixed-effects models examined breastfeeding × age × sex and breastfeeding × puberty × sex interactions on BMI trajectories (kg/m²). Logistic regression estimated the risk of unhealthy weight (BMI ≥ 85th percentile) by ages 11-12. All analyses were stratified by sex.

Results

Three-way in

SUBMITTER: Ottino Gonzalez J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12779591 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature