Objectives This aggregated ecological time-series data study aimed to investigate the effect of exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months on the prevalence of overweight in children under 5 years of age. Methods The study used data for Turkey from 2000 to 2024, provided by the WHO and also published through World Bank Country Reports. The prevalence of overweight was used as the dependent variable, and exclusive breastfeeding was used as the independent variable. Control variables included the share of health expenditures in GDP (including all confounders and quality of the health system), maternal mortality, and per capita national income. Results Although prevalence of overweight had increasing trend from 2000 to 2012, its trend was changed to decrease after 2012. Spearman’s rho correlation analysis for all years (2000–2024) showed that exclusive breastfeeding was significantly and positively correlated with overweight (r = 0.676; p < 0.01). For 2000–2012 period in which overweight trend was increasing, exclusive breastfeeding was significantly and positively correlated with overweight (r = 0.939; p < 0.01) in addition to maternal mortality (r=-0.993; p < 0.01) and GDP (r = 0.972; p < 0.01). For 2012–2024 time period, correlation between exclusive breastfeeding and overweight was negative, but correlation coefficient was insignificant (p > 0.05). Year controlled partial correlation analysis results showed that exclusive breastfeeding was significantly and negatively correlated with overweight (r=-0.698; p < 0.01). Overweight was also significantly correlated with health expenditure (r = 0.444; p < 0.05), maternal mortality (r=-0.677; p < 0.01) and GDP (r=-0.572; p < 0.01). Generalized linear model results showed that effect of exclusive breastfeeding (B = 0.060; p < 0.05) and maternal mortality (r=-0.277; p < 0.01) were statistically significant. Conclusion The effect of breastfeeding on weight monitoring and diet in breastfed children must be well understood, and causal interpretations regarding breastfeeding reducing childhood overweight should be avoided. Therefore, while we encourage breastfeeding in the fight against obesity, we believe it should not be viewed as a single tool for combating obesity, and must be supported by confounders.

The effect of exclusive breastfeeding levels for the first 6 months on the prevalence of overweight in children under 5 years of age

期刊论文
出版模式：

开放获取
发表日期：

2026年7月15日

查看全文

Özlem Kemer Aycan,
Kadir Yılmaz

摘要

Objectives

This aggregated ecological time-series data study aimed to investigate the effect of exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months on the prevalence of overweight in children under 5 years of age.

Methods

The study used data for Turkey from 2000 to 2024, provided by the WHO and also published through World Bank Country Reports. The prevalence of overweight was used as the dependent variable, and exclusive breastfeeding was used as the independent variable. Control variables included the share of health expenditures in GDP (including all confounders and quality of the health system), maternal mortality, and per capita national income.

Results

Although prevalence of overweight had increasing trend from 2000 to 2012, its trend was changed to decrease after 2012. Spearman’s rho correlation analysis for all years (2000–2024) showed that exclusive breastfeeding was significantly and positively correlated with overweight (r = 0.676; p < 0.01). For 2000–2012 period in which overweight trend was increasing, exclusive breastfeeding was significantly and positively correlated with overweight (r = 0.939; p < 0.01) in addition to maternal mortality (r=-0.993; p < 0.01) and GDP (r = 0.972; p < 0.01). For 2012–2024 time period, correlation between exclusive breastfeeding and overweight was negative, but correlation coefficient was insignificant (p > 0.05). Year controlled partial correlation analysis results showed that exclusive breastfeeding was significantly and negatively correlated with overweight (r=-0.698; p < 0.01). Overweight was also significantly correlated with health expenditure (r = 0.444; p < 0.05), maternal mortality (r=-0.677; p < 0.01) and GDP (r=-0.572; p < 0.01). Generalized linear model results showed that effect of exclusive breastfeeding (B = 0.060; p < 0.05) and maternal mortality (r=-0.277; p < 0.01) were statistically significant.

Conclusion

The effect of breastfeeding on weight monitoring and diet in breastfed children must be well understood, and causal interpretations regarding breastfeeding reducing childhood overweight should be avoided. Therefore, while we encourage breastfeeding in the fight against obesity, we believe it should not be viewed as a single tool for combating obesity, and must be supported by confounders.