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document
A randomized breast-feeding promotion intervention did not reduce child obesity in Belarus . The evidence that breast-feeding protects against obesity is based on observational studies , with potential for confounding and selection bias . This article summarizes a previously published study in which we assessed whether an intervention designed to promote exclusive and prolonged breast-feeding affects children 's height , weight , adiposity , and blood pressure ( BP ) at age 6.5 y . The Promotion of Breastfeeding Intervention Trial ( PROBIT ) is a cluster-randomized trial of a breast-feeding promotion intervention based on the WHO/UNICEF Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative . A total of 17,046 healthy breast-fed infants were enrolled from 31 Belarussian maternity hospitals and affiliated clinics , of whom 13,889 ( 81.5 % ) were followed up at 6.5 y with duplicate measurements of height , weight , waist circumference , triceps and subscapular skinfold thicknesses , systolic and diastolic BP . Analysis was based on intention to treat , with statistical adjustment for clustering within hospitals/clinics to permit inferences at the individual level . The experimental intervention led to a large increase in exclusive breast-feeding at 3 mo ( 43.3 % vs. 6.4 % , P < 0.001 ) and a significantly higher prevalence of any breast-feeding throughout infancy . No significant intervention effects were observed on height , BMI , adiposity measures , or BP . The breast-feeding promotion intervention resulted in substantial increases in the duration and exclusivity of breast-feeding yet did not reduce measures of adiposity at age 6.5 y . Previous reports of protective effects against obesity may reflect uncontrolled bias caused by confounding and selection .
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Intervention_Educational
breast-feeding promotion
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Intervention_Educational
Promotion of Breastfeeding
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Intervention_Educational
breast-feeding promotion
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Intervention_Physical
followed up at 6.5 y with duplicate measurements of height , weight , waist circumference , triceps and subscapular skinfold thicknesses , systolic and diastolic BP
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Outcome_Other
exclusive breast-feeding at 3 mo
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Outcome_Physical
height , BMI , adiposity measures , or BP .
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Outcome_Physical
increases in the duration and exclusivity of breast-feeding yet did not reduce measures of adiposity
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Participant_Sample-size
17,046
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Participant_Sample-size
13,889