Abstract

BREASTFEEDING AND IT’S RELATION TO THE WEIGHT OF CHILDREN FROM 3 TO 6 YEAR OLD IN AL-HASSA

Afnan Ali Aljumayan*, Anfal Aljumayan, Ibtihal Ahmed Alkadi, Fatimah Ahmed Alkadi, Zainab Abdulkhaliq Aljassim, Fatimah Al-thawab, Huda Saleh ALBattat, Duaa Saad AL Ateeq, Wala Al Bin Saleh and Khadijah Jassim ALHassan

Abstract

Background: Obesity is defined as excessive accumulation of fatty tissue that can hinder the effective functioning of the human body. As a result, health problems may ensue, leading to a poor quality of life and decreased lifespan. When seen in childhood, the issues of obesity can be far more extensive, as health problems occur earlier in life and place a burden on the child, family, community and health care system. Aim: To investigate the relationship between breast-feeding and obesity in children in Al-hassa and to see if the breast-feeding protects children from obesity. Methods: Questionnaires were self-administrated to mothers of children between age from 3-6 years in Al-hassa, and the researcher went to kindergartens to mugger current weight and height of children. Result: 100 (71.43%)respondents mother are considered valid for analysis. the major type of feeding is breast and formula feeding in the same time(57% of children). the result showed no significant difference of breast feeding on the prevalence of being overweight or obese in children from 3- 6 years old ( P value>0.05). The prevalence of obesity and overweight is 9% among 3to 6 year children. Conclusion: this study indicated that the breastfeeding did not affect the weight of the children.

Keywords: breast-feeding, formula feeding, BMI.