Cross-sectional survey examined obesity rates in children, showing breastfeeding history significantly impacts obesity.
Background: Indonesia is currently experiencing a double burden of malnutrition, with a notable rise in childhood obesity. In Banten Province, the prevalence of obesity among children showed a consistent increase from 2016 to 2018. Exclusive breastfeeding has been identified as a potential protective factor against obesity. This study aimed to examine the relationship between exclusive breastfeeding history and obesity in children aged 4-6 years. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out involving 134 children from public and private kindergartens in Serang City, selected using a two-stage sampling technique. Data were gathered through questionnaires and anthropometric assessments, and analyzed with the chi-square test (α=0.05). Results: The prevalence of obesity was 15.7%, while 81.3% of children had been exclusively breastfed. Children without exclusive breastfeeding were 7.8 times more likely to develop obesity (95% CI: 2.8-21.6; p=0.001). Conclusion: Lack of exclusive breastfeeding significantly increases the risk of obesity in preschool-aged children. Strengthening exclusive breastfeeding practices and enhancing parental awareness are essential strategies for obesity prevention.
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Sari et al. (2025) studied this question.
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