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ARTICLES:
Jessica G. Woo, Lawrence M. Dolan, Ardythe L. Morrow, Sheela R. Geraghty, and Elizabeth Goodman
Breastfeeding Helps Explain Racial and Socioeconomic Status Disparities in Adolescent Adiposity
Pediatrics 2008; 121: e458-e465 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]
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[Read eLetters] Social disadvantage, maternal BMI and breastfeeding
Lydia M Furman   (10 March 2008)

Social disadvantage, maternal BMI and breastfeeding 10 March 2008
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Lydia M Furman,
pediatrician
Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital

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Re: Social disadvantage, maternal BMI and breastfeeding

lydia.furman{at}uhhospitals.org Lydia M Furman

Woo and colleagues have performed an interesting and thoughtful analysis that helps elucidate the relationship between racial/ socioeconomic status, breastfeeding in infancy and adolescent BMI. I wonder if there is study data on maternal or paternal BMI? This variable is a key predictor of offspring BMI, and may be as important as breastfeeding in predicting childhood BMI (1,2). Since there are significant racial disparities in the rates of both maternal obesity and breastfeeding in the US, maternal BMI may explain more differences in adolescent BMI than breastfeeding (3,4). Could the authors address this issue?

1. Li C, Kaur H, Choi WS, Huang TT, Lee RE, Ahluwalia JS. Additive interactions of maternal prepregnancy BMI and breast-feeding on childhood overweight. Obes Res. 2005 Feb;13(2):362-71.

2. Dubois L, Girard M. Early determinants of overweight at 4.5 years in a population-based longitudinal study. Int J Obes (Lond). 2006 Apr;30(4):610-7.

3. Ogden CL, Carrroll MD, McDowell MA, et al. Obesity in adults in the United States. NCHS data Brief. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db01.pdf. Accessed 3-9-08.

4. Centers for Disease Control. Racial and socioeconomic disparities in breastfeeding - United States 2004. MMWR Weekly Report March 31, 2006 / 55(12);335-339. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5512a3.htm. Accessed 3-9-08.

Conflict of Interest:

None declared