Association of Breastfeeding Duration with Body Composition in Children Aged 3–5 Years

Objective This study aimed to assess the relationship between the body composition of children aged 3–5 years and breastfeeding status and duration.Methods The study was conducted using data from the National Nutrition and Health Systematic Survey for children 0–17 years of age in China(CNHSC),a nationwide cross-sectional study.Breastfeeding information and potential confounders were collected using standardized questionnaires administered through face-to-face interviews.The body composition of preschool children was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis.A multivariate linear regression model was used to assess the relationship between breastfeeding duration and body composition after adjusting for potential confounders.Results In total,2,008 participants were included in the study.Of these,89.2%were ever breastfed and the median duration of breastfeeding was 12 months(IQR 7–15 months).Among children aged 3 years,the height-for-age Z-score(HAZ)for the ever breastfed group was lower than that for never breastfed group(0.12 vs.0.42,P=0.043).In addition,the weight-for-age Z-score(WAZ)of the ever breastfed group was lower than that of the never breastfed group(0.31 vs.0.65,P=0.026),and the WAZ was lower in children aged 4 years who breastfed between 12 and 23 months than in those who never breastfed.Compared to the formula-fed children,the fat-free mass of breastfed infants was higher for children aged 3 years(12.84 kg vs.12.52 kg,P=0.015)and lower for those aged 4 years(14.31 kg vs.14.64 kg,P=0.048),but no difference was detected for children aged 5 years(16.40 kg vs.16.42 kg,P=0.910)after adjusting for potential confounders.No significant difference was detected in the weight-for-height Z-score(WHZ),body mass index(BMI)-for-age Z-score(BAZ),fat-free mass index,and body fat indicators in the ever breastfed and never breastfed groups and among various breastfeeding duration groups for children aged 3–5 years.Conclusion No obvious associations were detected between breastfeeding duration,BMI,and fat mass indicators.Future prospective studies should explore the relationship between breastfeeding status and fat-free mass.

National Nutrition and Health Systematic Survey for Children 0–17 Years of Age in China

The main purpose of the National Nutrition and Health Systematic Survey for children 0-17 years of age in China(CNHSC)was to collect basic data on the nutrition,development,and health status for children in different regions across China using evidence-based,reliable,and cost-effective approaches.Children and their parents or guardians from seven regions(south,southwest,north,northwest,eastern,central,and northeast China)in China were recruited.A multi-stage stratified randomized sampling method was used.Two provinces were randomly sampled from each of the seven regions,from which one urban district and one rural country were also randomly sampled,resulting in a total of 28 survey counties/districts.Dietary surveys,health examinations,laboratory testing,and questionnaires were used to collect dietary intake,nutritional status,child development,and health status information.Nutrition,health,and lifestyle assessment of children and their parents was determined using the Knowledge Attitude Practice(KAP)survey.Greater than 100,000 children(38,000 children<6 years of age and 66,000 children6-17 years of age)completed the survey.The survey provided comprehensive data on child nutrition and health status for future studies and will serve as the basis for an integrated nutrition and health improvement strategies proposal for children in China.

The Patterns of Complementary Feeding and Growth among 12 to 23 Month-Old Children in China

Objective This study aimed to understand the characteristics of dietary patterns among children aged12 to 23 months and discusses the relationship between dietary patterns and the growth of children.Method Cross-sectional data were selected from the National Nutrition and Health Systematic Survey for 0 to 18 year-old children in China(n=2,449)to describe the patterns of complementary feeding and the growth of children.Cluster analysis was used to analyze complementary feeding patterns,and an analysis of variance and Bonferroni test were conducted to analyze the relationship between Z scores and complementary feeding patterns.Results Four dietary patterns were identified among the children via cluster analysis.In Pattern 4(n=104,4.2%),children still consumed milk as their staple food.They displayed the lowest grain,fruit,vegetable,egg,and flesh foods consumption,a medium frequency of breast milk consumption,and a high frequency of dairy product consumption.Pattern 4 had the lowest length-for-age Z scores and weight-for-age Z scores,with-0.10±1.34 and 0.24±1.00,respectively(F=7.940,P<0.001;F=5.317,P<0.001).Conclusion Although China is undergoing rapid urbanization and economic development,there is still a phenomenon of insufficient intake of protein-rich foods and dairy-based dietary patterns at the stage of complementary food introduced among children aged 12 to 23 months.