High intake of added sugars is linked to rapid weight gain in infancy, breastfeeding ≥12 months may protect against this: A preliminary investigation

Abstract

Background: Consumption of added sugars is linked to excess adiposity in older age groups and breastfeeding has been shown to protect against later obesity.

Objectives: This investigation aimed to determine whether intake of added sugars associates with rapid weight gain in individuals under 2 years of age, if intake of added sugars associates with breastfeeding duration, and how both influence body weight.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of data from three 24-hours dietary recalls collected from 141 infants/toddlers (age 11.9 ± 1.9 months, 44.7% male) was performed. Multivariable regressions assessed relationships between added sugar intakes, breastfeeding duration, and weight status. Hierarchical regressions examined added variance accounted for in rapid weight gain (specifically, upward weight-for-age percentile [WFA %tile] crossing) through the interaction of added sugars * breastfeeding duration.

Results: Added sugars correlated positively with upward WFA %tile crossing (r = 0.280, P < .001) and negatively with breastfeeding duration (r = -0.468, P < .001). Consumption of added sugars was a significant predictor of rapid weight gain when breastfeeding duration was short (<12 months, β = 0.020, P = .029), but not long (≥12 months, β = 0.001, P = .875).

Conclusions: A high intake of added sugars in individuals below age 2 associates with rapid weight gain, though breastfeeding ≥12 months appears protective against this. Further studies are necessary to substantiate these findings and provide insight into underlying mechanisms.

Keywords: childhood obesity; early childhood risk factors; parents.

FIGURE 1

Breastfeeding duration moderated the association between added sugar intakes and rapid weight gain (n = 141). Infant/toddlers (9-<16 months of age) who experienced a shorter breastfeeding duration (−1 SD below the mean) had a steeper upward WFA %tile crossing (according to the model-estimated means) compared to those who experienced a longer breastfeeding duration (+1 SD above the mean). Simple slope analyses demonstrated that intake of added sugars was a significant predictor of rapid weight gain (upward WFA %tile crossing) when breastfeeding duration was short (<12 months, β = 0.020, P = .029), but not when it was long (≥12 months, β = 0.001, P = .875)

FIGURE 2

Upward weight-for-age percentile (WFA %tile) crossing (mean ± SEM) in relation to added sugar intakes and breastfeeding duration. Added sugar intakes were divided into two groups, per a median split: low (<9.81 g, n = 69) and high (≥ 9.81 g, n = 70) daily amounts, and breastfeeding duration was divided into two groups: short (<12 months, n = 66) and long (≥12 months, n = 73)