Abstract
Introduction: Obesity Is Global Problem Which Begins From Early Childhood. Early Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) without foods or Milk Formula (MF) before 6 months, with continued breastfeeding for two years are optimal feeding practices. Aim: To review studies conducted to assess the nutritional status of preschool children with a focus on obesity and stunting and their association with EBF vs MF feeding. Methods: We used online search engines of the Egyptian university libraries consortium (www.eulc.edu) to search for studies on overweight, obesity stunting and wasting in preschool children. We identified 919 theses that were filtered to 32 studies then to 18 theses fitting the criteria of the study. Analysis of the pooled data was done for the studies with children who were EBF (2 studies) vs children who were exposed to MF (16 studies) by age and sex. Findings: Pooled analysis for children aged 6-59 months among MF vs. EBF studies as follows: overweight 5.4% vs. 3.45%, obesity 13.8% vs. 5.65%, stunting 21.6% vs. 1.15% and wasting 9.7% vs. 0.85% respectively. Obesity and overweight were higher in males in both studies, whereas stunting and wasting were higher in females in both studies (ages 0-72 months). Early and extended MF feeding, foods before 6 months of life, chips and canned drinks were prominent risk factors for obesity. Large family size was associated with obesity and short birth interval with stunting. Colostrum feeding, longer duration of breastfeeding, fruits and vegetables were protective. Obese children showed clinical signs of anemia, vitamin A and D deficiency, severe asthma and developmental delay. Conclusions: Obesity and MF feeding beyond 6 months and well into 5 years of age threaten child health. Policies and legislations are needed to control, counter and monitor marketing tactics supported by guiding messages. Keywords: Obesity; overweight; stunting; wasting; fast foods; breastfeeding; birth spacing; child development; infancy; preschool children; anthropometry; growth.
Highlights
Obesity Is Global Problem Which Begins From EarlyChildhood
Obesity and Milk Formula (MF) feeding beyond 6 months and well into 5 years of age threaten child health
The theses filtered and fitting with the inclusion criteria of the review are listed in Table (1) which shows the prevalence rates of overweight, obesity, stunting and wasting by age groups of 12-23 months, 24-35 months, 36-47 months 48-59 months and 60-72 months) according to the national and local studies in Egypt
Summary
Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) without foods or Milk. Formula (MF) before 6 months, with continued breastfeeding for two years are optimal feeding practices. In 2020, globally, 149.2 million children under the age of 5 years of age were stunted, 45.4 million wasted, and 38.9 million overweight. Of concern is the rising problem of overweight and obesity which is more challenging as about half of all countries have experienced no progress or are worsening especially that adiposity persists throughout a lifetime especially with the COVID-19 lockdown that potentiates sedentary life and overeating of unhealthy foods under the effect of marketing. Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) for 6 months and Continued Breastfeeding (CBF) for two years or more are recommended by UNICEF and WHO as the optimal feeding practices [3].
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