Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the association between prepregnancy body mass, gestational weight gain, and inadequate breastfeeding (BF) with overweight in Chilean children ages 3 to 4 y. Methods: This was an analytical and cross-sectional study with 560 participants. Age, residence, BF, and weight gain information were collected from child care records. The children's nutritional status (NS) was determined according to the weight-for-height z-score for sex. Bivariate relationships were evaluated by the χ2 test, and a multivariate logistic regression model was applied with the Stata version 15 software at α < 0.05. Results: Prepregnancy NS values were 37% normal and 63% overweight. Excess weight gain occurred in 75% of the mothers. The children's NS was related to the duration of BF (P = 0.002), prepregnancy NS (P = 0.002), and weight gain (P = 0.004). When adjusting the logistic regression model for sex and maternal age, the overweight prepregnancy NS increased up to twice the risk for OW in children (odds ratio [OR], 2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3–4.1), as well as excess weight gain (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.5–5.9), and non-exclusive BF (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.3–4.4). Conclusion: Children showing risk factors such as non-exclusive BF, prepregnancy NS with overweight, and excess gestational weight gain faced between 2 and 2.4 times more risk for overweight than children without these factors.