Title: Feeding patterns and BMI trajectories during infancy: a multi-ethnic, prospective birth cohort
| Authors: | Outi Sirkka, Michel H. Hof, Tanja Vrijkotte, Marieke Abrahamse-Berkeveld, Jutka Halberstadt, Jacob C. Seidell and Margreet R. Olthof |
| Published: | 2021 |
| Journal: | BMC Pediatrics |
There is increasing evidence that early growth, such as BMI trajectories during infancy are strongly associated with later overweight and obesity. Infant feeding is one of the key modifiable factors to impact long-term growth outcomes.
Although several studies indicated different early growth patterns between breast- or formula-fed infants, the role of timing of complementary feeding (CF) is less clear. So far, few studies have addressed the combined impact of the type of milk feeding type and the timing of CF on infant growth.
Using data from the from the Amsterdam Born Children and their Development (ABCD) study, the authors investigated how specific feeding patterns (i.e. milk feeding type combined with timing of CF) are associated with BMI trajectories during infancy. Furthermore, potential ethnic differences in the associations were also examined.
Four BMI trajectories were identified: low, mid-low, mid-high and high. The “low” trajectory described a relatively stable BMI pattern with values below the median of the WHO growth standard through the 1st year of life. However, the trajectory “high” showed an early rapid BMI increase and therefore remaining well-above the median of the WHO growth standard.
The results showed that feeding patterns were associated with the identified BMI trajectories. Especially, infants with a feeding pattern of formula feeding and early CF were less likely to be in the ‘low’ trajectory.
These results highlight the importance of infant feeding patterns for the development of BMI trajectories during the 1st year of life. Furthermore, the results show a need for more studies to include ethnicity when investigating the impact of early-life nutrition on growth.
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