Association Between Exclusive Breastfeeding, Nutritional Status and Eating Behavior, in Chilean Schoolchildren: A Cross-Sectional Study
Fecha
2025-10-31
Nota de Acceso
Fecha de embargo
Profe guía
Título de la revista
ISSN de la revista
Título del volumen
Editor
MPDI
ISBN
ISSN
2072-6643
ISSNe
1793-6802
Resumen
Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the association between exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) up to six months and both nutritional status and eating behavior in Chilean
schoolchildren aged 5 to 8 years.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 109 children aged 8–10 years from three cities in Chile. EBF was assessed retrospectively through caregiver questionnaires. Eating behavior was evaluated using the Spanish version of the CEBQ. Anthropometric measurements (weight, height, and waist circumference) were obtained following a standardized protocol to determine nutritional status and waistto-height ratio. Differences between EBF and non-EBF groups were analyzed using the Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis tests.
Results: Eating behavior scores for pro-intake (“food approach”) were strongly associated with obesity among non-EBF children (ratio = 1.24, p = 0.001). Children with abdominal obesity who were not EBF showed higher scores for food approach behaviors (ratio = 1.22, p = 0.011). A significant trend was observed in the subscale Enjoyment of Food and Emotional vereating in children with obesity (p = 0.011 and p = 0.008), abdominal obesity (p = 0.031 and p = 0.017), and cardiometabolic risk (p = 0.036 and p = 0.049) in the non-EBF group, compared to those who were EBF up to 6 months of age.
Conclusions: Scores reflecting a tendency toward higher food intake were strongly associated with obesity and other obesity-related parameters in children who did not experience EBF during early childhood. Having been exclusively breastfed, regardless of current nutritional status, was associated with lower scores on pro-obesity behaviors.
Descripción
Lugar de Publicación
Switzerland
Sponsorship
Project funded through an internal research fund, category Regular Research and Creation Project, Santo Tomás University, years 2018–2020 (Project IDH271).
Citación
Nutrients, Vol. 17, N°. 21 (2025) p. 1-13
Palabras clave
exclusive breastfeeding, eating behavior, nutritional status, overweight, schoolchildren
Licencia
Atribución-NoComercial-CompartirIgual 3.0 Chile (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 CL)