6638 Breastfeeding and childhood obesity – is there a correlation? Data from a large obesity clinic in a disadvantaged London borough

Objectives This study aims to identify if the severity of obesity and its related co-morbidities are worse between a non-breastfed and a breastfed group in a large population of obese children in Barking, Havering & Redbridge, England. Methods This is a retrospective analysis of progressively developed data of 717 patients, referred to the obesity clinic at a large local hospital. Data was collected and examined based on demographics, infant feeding and obesity severity, with emphasis on initiation and duration of breastfeeding. Results 492/717 (69%) patients fulfilled the study eligibility. There were 262 females (47%) and 263 (53%) of white ethnicity. Mean referral age was 10.2 years (range 0.5 – 16.8). The mean age of obesity onset was 5.5 years (0.06 – 14.8). Mean BMI standard deviation score (SDS) was 2.94 (1.4 – 6.8), with 61% (298/492) > 99.6th centile. Acanthosis nigricans 296/492 (60%). Central body fat distribution 335/491 (68%). Dyslipidaemia 116/333 (35%). Glucose metabolism disturbance 25/349 (7.2%). Breastfeeding initiation 307/492 (62%), with a mean duration 6 months (range 0.02–36). 185/492 (38%) had no breastfeeding, 48/492 (10%) <6 weeks, 167/492 (34%) 6 weeks-6months and 92/492 (19%) >6 months. Breastfeeding initiated in 47% (124/263) of those with white ethnicity, compared to 80% (183/229) in combined other ethnic groups. Mean duration 5.1 months for white, compared to 6.1 in black and 8.1 in asian ethnicities. Mean age of solids introduction 5.3 months (range 3 – 9). With no breastfeeding mean age of solids introduction 5.2 months (3 – 9) and with >6months 5.3 (3 – 7). Table 1 shows the clinical data for varying durations of breastfeeding. Conclusion This study shows that the rate of breastfeeding was significantly lower than national figures (62% vs 81%).¹ In this cohort, there were no significant differences in obesity severity between those breastfed or not, even accounting for varying durations. The data also shows significant disparities between ethnicities in infant feeding, supporting that obesity is multifactorial and breastfeeding alone is not protective. Further research is required to utilise control groups in the local population. Reference Infant Feeding Survey – UK, Official statistics, National statistics, 2010.