[Breastfeeding as a protective factor against overweight and obesity among pre-school children]. / Lactancia materna como factor protector de sobrepeso y obesidad en preescolares.

INTRODUCTION: The rates of overweight and obesity among children have significantly increased in Chile. OBJECTIVE: To assess the benefits of breastfeeding in preventing malnutrition by excessive intake of foods in Chilean pre-school children. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted in 2011 on pediatric patients treated in a private Chilean healthcare center (San Joaquin Medical Center, Catholic University). Gender, age, weight, height, nutritional diagnosis, type of feeding during the first 6 months of life, socioeconomic status, parental education and obesity, television viewing, and kindergarten attendance were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 209 patients were included in the study, 53.1% of whom were male, and 60.3% were predominantly breastfed for the first 6 months of life. More than half (51.7%) were eutrophic, 29.7% were overweight, and 18.6% obese. The patients were between the ages of 2 and 3 years 11 months. The crude Odds Ratio of breast-feeding versus formula during the first 6 months of life in patients with normal weight versus overweight children was 0.442 (95% CI 0.204-0.961). CONCLUSIONS: It was found that predominantly breastfeeding during the first 6 months of life acted as a protective factor against malnutrition by excessive intake of foods in Chilean pre-school children treated in this private medical center.

Lactancia materna como factor protector de sobrepeso y obesidad en preescolares / Breastfeeding as a protective factor against overweight and obesity among pre-school children

Introducción: El sobrepeso y la obesidad infantil han aumentado de forma importante en la población pediátrica chilena. Objetivo: Comprobar los beneficios de la lactancia materna en la prevención de la malnutrición por exceso en preescolares chilenos. Pacientes y Método: Estudio caso-control efectuado el año 2011 en pacientes pediátricos controlados en un centro privado de Chile (Centro Médico San Joaquín; Pontificia Universidad Católica). Se consignó sexo, edad, peso y talla, diagnóstico nutricional, tipo de alimentación durante los primeros 6 meses de vida, nivel socioeconómico, educación y obesidad de los padres, horas frente al televisor y asistencia a jardín infantil. Resultados: Se incluyeron 209 pacientes: el 53,1% eran de sexo masculino y el 60,3% recibieron lactancia materna predominante durante los primeros 6 meses de vida. Entre los 2 años y los 3 años y 11 meses, el 51,7% era eutrófico, el 29,7% presentó sobrepeso y un 18,6% obesidad. La odds ratio cruda de exposición a alimentación con lactancia materna versus fórmula láctea predominante durante los primeros 6 meses de vida en pacientes con malnutrición por exceso versus eutróficos fue de 0,442 (intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%, 0,204-0,961). Conclusiones: Se verificó que la lactancia materna predominante los primeros 6 meses de vida actuó como factor protector contra malnutrición por exceso en niños preescolares chilenos tratados en este centro médico privado.

Introduction: The rates of overweight and obesity among children have significantly increased in Chile. Objective: To assess the benefits of breastfeeding in preventing malnutrition by excessive intake of foods in Chilean pre-school children. Methods: A case-control study was conducted in 2011 on pediatric patients treated in a private Chilean healthcare center (San Joaquin Medical Center, Catholic University). Gender, age, weight, height, nutritional diagnosis, type of feeding during the first 6 months of life, socioeconomic status, parental education and obesity, television viewing, and kindergarten attendance were analyzed. Results: A total of 209 patients were included in the study, 53.1% of whom were male, and 60.3% were predominantly breastfed for the first 6 months of life. More than half (51.7%) were eutrophic, 29.7% were overweight, and 18.6% obese. The patients were between the ages of 2 and 3 years 11 months. The crude Odds Ratio of breast-feeding versus formula during the first 6 months of life in patients with normal weight versus overweight children was 0.442 (95% CI 0.204-0.961). Conclusions: It was found that predominantly breastfeeding during the first 6 months of life acted as a protective factor against malnutrition by excessive intake of foods in Chilean pre-school children treated in this private medical center.