Background: There is evidence that breastfeeding (BF) may have protective effect against obesity. In some studies, a time-dependent association between duration of BF and obesity has also been shown.
Objectives: This community-based study was conducted aimed to evaluate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children 2-12 years in association with factors related to breastfeeding in Arar City, Northern Saudi Arabia.
Participants and methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Arar City, mothers were selected from the attendees of the female side of 5 randomly selected primary health care centres in the city. They were interviewed and filled a questionnaire which included the needed questions.
Results: Among the 562 studied children, 54.8% were females and the estimated proportion of obese and overweight children are 39.9% and 13.9%, respectively. The BMI group proportions were significantly affected by the period of breastfeeding, father's obesity, and type of feeding; whether it was artificial or breast-feeding, or both (P<0.05). We found that 43% of those who were underfed; breastfed for less than 4 months only, were obese and 8.8% were overweight. Among those who were breast-fed for 4 to 6 months, 31.2% were obese and 20.8% were overweight and for those that had a 6 months to a year breastfeeding, 19.4% and 12.9% were obese and overweight, respectively.
Conclusion: In Arar City, Northern Saudi Arabia, the BMI of children 2-12 years is significantly affected by the period of breastfeeding, father's obesity, and type of feeding; whether it is artificial or breast-feeding, or both (P<0.05). So policy makers must condense their efforts to increase the awareness of the mothers about the protective effect of breastfeeding from obesity and its comorbidities.