Mediating Effect of Infant Rapid Weight Gain on the Association Between Exclusive Breastfeeding and the Risk of Obesity Later in Life
Authors' conclusion
Infant feeding practices, particularly exclusive breastfeeding in the first 4 months, are associated with weight and BMI trajectories up to 6 years. Rapid weight gain mediates this relationship in the first 6 months, but from 6 to 12 months.
Study context
- Population
- Children born at term with adequate weight for gestational age, followed from birth to 6 years
- Participants
- 834 children
- Exposure
- Formula feeding vs exclusive breastfeeding in the first 4 months
- Outcome
- BMI z-scores and obesity
- Follow-up
- Up to 6 years
Methodological detailsmediation analysis
- Mediation analysis
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Association between feeding type and body mass index (BMI) at 6 years partly positively mediated by infant rapid weight gain (RWG) up to 6 months
- Formula-fed vs Exclusively breastfed: P = 0.012
- Formula-fed vs Exclusively breastfed: P = 0.003
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
RWG
P = 0.036
RWG and BMI z-score / obesity at 6 years
- RWG associated with higher BMI z-scores and obesity
- P < 0.001 in both cases
Original publication
Mediating Effect of Infant Rapid Weight Gain on the Association Between Exclusive Breastfeeding and the Risk of Obesity Later in Life. Pediatr Obes. Published 14 July 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →