ASSOCIATION BETWEEN EARLY WEANING AND NUTRITIONAL OUTCOMES IN CHILDHOOD

Abstract

Early weaning is a practice that is still prevalent in several contexts and has been associated with relevant nutritional repercussions in childhood. This study aimed to analyze, through an integrative literature review, the impacts of early weaning on children's nutritional status, with an emphasis on outcomes related to malnutrition and obesity. The search was carried out in April 2025, in the US National Library of Medicine (PubMed) and Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS) databases, through the Virtual Health Library (VHL) portal. The Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS) and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) were used, with a combination of the Boolean operators AND and OR. Studies published between 2020 and 2025 were included. After applying the eligibility criteria, 11 articles comprised the final sample. The results showed that stopping breastfeeding before six months is associated with a higher prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies, high risk of infections, overweight, obesity and lower weight gain. Factors such as low maternal education, lack of professional support and early introduction of ultra-processed foods were identified as aggravating factors. It is concluded that early weaning constitutes a significant risk factor for nutritional imbalances, reinforcing the importance of educational strategies and adequate monitoring during the introduction of food.