Comparação entre aleitamento materno exclusivo até 6 meses de idade e introdução precoce de leites artificiais na evolução para sobrepeso e obesidade em pré-escolares, no período entre março a outubro de 2021, em serviços de atendimento pediátrico de Belém

Abstract

Introduction: Breastfeeding is the natural and sufficient way to feed a child in the first months, as it provides adequate physical, psychological and social growth and development, in addition to ensuring sufficient nutrition in this phase of intense metabolism. In this sense, the World Health Organization and the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics recommend that exclusive breastfeeding be the first feeding experience, and should be maintained exclusively for up to six months, in order to avoid short-term harm such as orthopedic disorders and disorders respiratory and mainly long-term such as obesity, anemia and chronic non-communicable diseases. Methodology: The present study is characterized as observational, cross-sectional, exploratory, of patients treated at the Child Care Outpatient Clinic of the Medical Specialties Center (CEMEC) of the University Center of the State of Pará (CESUPA) and the Preventório Santa Terezinha. Data were collected from medical records of outpatient consultations, and only those patients who attended consultations from March to October 2021 were included in the research. The association between nutritional status and the other study variables were evaluated using the chi-square test. Objectives: To compare exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months of age with the early introduction of artificial milk in the development of overweight and obesity in preschool children aged 2 to 5 years attended at the childcare clinic of the Medical Specialty Center (CEMEC) and do Preventório Santa Terezinha. Results: The results show that there was an association between breastfeeding for a minimum period of 06 months and the nutritional diagnosis of eutrophy in pediatric patients and, consequently, patients who underwent breastfeeding for a period of less than 06 months had the main outcome the diagnosis of overweight/obesity. Conclusion: It was possible to see that exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months is a protective factor for the development of overweight and obesity.