Duration of Breastfeeding and Subsequent Adolescent Obesity: Effects of Maternal Behavior and Socioeconomic Status

Michelle L Byrne; Orli S Schwartz; Julian G Simmons; Lisa Sheeber; Sarah Whittle; Nicholas B Allen

Journal article

Duration of Breastfeeding and Subsequent Adolescent Obesity: Effects of Maternal Behavior and Socioeconomic Status

Michelle L Byrne, Orli S Schwartz, Julian G Simmons, Lisa Sheeber, Sarah Whittle, Nicholas B Allen

JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENT HEALTH | ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC | Published : 2018

DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2017.10.019

Abstract

PURPOSE: Previous research has shown that longer duration of breastfeeding is associated with less risk of obesity in childhood and adolescence. However, although putative physiological mechanisms have been proposed, less work has focused on psychosocial or environmental factors, including socioeconomic status (SES) and stressful family environments. METHODS: The current study examined the role of observed maternal emotional behavior and SES (parental education) in the association between duration of breastfeeding and adolescent body mass index (BMI). One hundred fifteen mothers and adolescents participated in interaction tasks when adolescents were approximately 12 years of age. We measured..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Sarah Whittle Author Psychiatry

Nick Allen Author Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences

Orli Schwartz Author Centre for Youth Mental Health

Julian Simmons Author Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences

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Grants

Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council Australia

Awarded by Australian Research Council

Funding Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from the Colonial Foundation, the National Health and Medical Research Council Australia (Program Grant 350241) and the Australian Research Council (Discovery Grant DP0878136). Dr. Whittle is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Australia Career Development Fellowship (ID: 1007716).