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Cited by 147Obesity, Physical Activity, DietBreastfeeding Practices and InfluencesInfant Nutrition and Health

Breastfeeding as obesity prevention in the United States: A sibling difference model

Metzger, Molly W., McDade, Thomas W.·2010·American Journal of Human Biology
DOI 10.1002/ajhb.20982
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Abstract

In light of the growing prevalence of obesity in the United States, and the health risks associated with childhood obesity in particular, it is critical to identify avenues for obesity prevention. This study tests the hypothesis that breastfeeding serves as one protective factor against children's subsequent development of obesity. We used linear‐, logistic‐, and sibling fixed‐effects regression models to evaluate the association between infant feeding history and body mass index (BMI) in late childhood or adolescence (9–19 years, mean = 14 years). Complete data were available for 976 participants (488 sibling pairs) in the 2002 Child Development Supplement of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, a nationally representative survey of families in the United States. In sibling pairs in which only one sibling was breastfed, the breastfed sibling had an adolescent BMI that was 0.39 standard deviations lower than his or her sibling, controlling for child‐specific factors that may have influenced parents' feeding decisions. This effect is equivalent to a difference of more than 13 pounds for a 14‐year‐old child of average height. Furthermore, fixed‐effects logistic regressions predicting overweight and obese status showed that breastfed siblings were less likely to reach those BMI thresholds. We therefore conclude that breastfeeding in infancy may be an important protective factor against the development of obesity in the United States. The application of a sibling fixed‐effects model provides stronger evidence of a causal relationship than prior research reporting similar patterns of association. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

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Crossref · 10.1002/ajhb.20982

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37 of 37 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • The third study was US-based and included 488 sib-pairs whose BMI was assessed at ages 9-19 years.

    “The third study was also US-based and included 488 sib-pairs whose BMI was assessed at ages 9–19 years64”

    From Triangulation in aetiological epidemiology (2017) · cites this paper as [64]

  • Neither within-sibship study had adequate statistical power to detect a difference between the effect estimates from the within-sibship analyses and that of unrelated participants in the cohorts.

    “Neither study had adequate statistical power to detect a difference between the effect estimates from the within-sibship analyses and that of unrelated participants in the cohorts”

    From Triangulation in aetiological epidemiology (2017) · cites this paper as [64]

  • Three studies were identified which examined associations of being breastfed with BMI.

    “Three studies were identified which examined associations of being breastfed with BMI.”

    From Triangulation in aetiological epidemiology (2017) · cites this paper as [64]

  • The within-sibship analyses in both studies were imprecisely estimated and not reliably different from the results of analyses between unrelated individuals.

    “though the within-sibship analyses in both studies were imprecisely estimated and not reliably different from the results of analyses between unrelated individuals.62–64”

    From Triangulation in aetiological epidemiology (2017) · cites this paper as [64]

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Authors
Metzger, M. W., & McDade, T. W.
Affiliations
Northwestern University (US)
Corresponding author
Metzger, Molly W.
ORCID
Venue
American Journal of Human Biology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2010-04-07
Volume
22
Issue
3
Pages
291-296
ISSN
  • 1042-0533 (ISSN-L)
  • 1520-6300
DOI
10.1002/ajhb.20982
OpenAlex
W2149959704
Cited by
147
References
36
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 16
FWCI
10.07
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • American Journal of Human Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Breastfeeding Practices and Influences
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Infant Nutrition and Health
Keywords
breastfeeding, childhood obesity, obesity prevention, body mass index, infant feeding, causal inference, Panel Study of Income Dynamics, child development
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Age Factors, Breast Feeding, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Male, Obesity, Regression Analysis, Sex Factors, Socioeconomic Factors, United States, Body Mass Index, Siblings

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