The effects of breastfeeding on childhood BMI: a propensity score matching approach.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Many studies have found a statistical association between breastfeeding and childhood adiposity. This paper investigates whether breastfeeding has an effect on subsequent childhood body mass index (BMI) using propensity scores to account for confounding.

Methods

We use data from the Millennium Cohort Study, a nationally representative UK cohort survey, which contains detailed information on infant feeding and childhood BMI. Propensity score matching is used to investigate the mean BMI in children breastfed exclusively and partially for different durations of time.

Results

We find statistically significant influences of breastfeeding on childhood BMI, particularly in older children, when breastfeeding is prolonged and exclusive. At 7 years, children who were

SUBMITTER: Gibson LA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5939873 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature