Breastfeeding and Physical Activity in U.S. Children: Influence of Socioeconomic Factors

Introduction Breastfeeding confers early-life health benefits, while physical activity supports long-term physical and cognitive well-being. Whether breastfeeding duration influences later physical activity remains unclear. This study evaluated the association between breastfeeding duration and physical activity in U.S. children. Methods We analyzed data from the 2021–2022 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Children aged 2–17 years with complete data on breastfeeding history, physical activity, demographics, and socioeconomic status were included (n = 538). Breastfeeding duration was categorized as <2 months, 2–6 months, 6–12 months, or ≥12 months. The outcome was the number of days per week the child engaged in ≥60 minutes of activity. Multivariable linear regression adjusted for age, gender, race/ethnicity, and household poverty-income ratio. Results The mean number of active days per week was 5.36 (SD = 1.83). After adjustment, breastfeeding duration was not significantly associated with physical activity. Compared with <2 months, activity levels did not differ among children breastfed for 2–6 months (β = –0.27, p = 0.36), 6–12 months (β = –0.26, p = 0.35), or ≥12 months (β = –0.26, p = 0.33). White children were more active than Black children (β = 0.999, p < 0.001), and children from upper middle–income households were more active than those below poverty (β = 0.79, p = 0.024). Conclusion Breastfeeding duration was not independently associated with physical activity among U.S. children. Racial and socioeconomic disparities were stronger predictors, underscoring the importance of addressing structural barriers to promote activity in youth.