Evaluating the impact of WIC on breastfeeding and obesity Shannon E. Whaley, Ph.D. Director of Research and Evaluation PHFE WIC Program

WIC in Los Angeles County (LAC)  Serves over 600,000 individuals/month in 90+ WIC Centers.  Serves 91% of the eligible infants & 69% of all infants born in LAC.  81% Hispanic, 9% African-American, 5% White, 5% Asian.  7 local agency WIC Programs in LAC - PHFE is largest (caseload = 310,550).

Exclusive Breastfeeding Percent of 5000 to 6000 enrollments per month

Exclusive Breastfeeding Percent of 5000 to 6000 enrollments per month

Exclusive Breastfeeding Combo - Feeding

Formula Feeding

Apr 08 Mar 09 13% Nov 09 Sept 10 20% Apr 07 Mar %

Nov 09 Sept % Apr 08 Mar % Apr 07 Mar %

Breastfeeding and Obesity  PHFE WIC serves over 300,000 participants/month  ~5000 births/month  60 sites in LA, Orange and San Bernardino Counties  84% Hispanic, 6% Asian, 5% African-American, 4% White

What data do we have?  70,000+ infants on WIC from birth to 4+ years old  They have the same Individual ID for four + years Infant on WIC Same child on WIC four years later Four + Years

Overall Impact Infant Breastfeeding  4 years old Infants at Enrollment 25.9% are obese 19.8% are obese 23.6% less likely to be obese at 4 years old Obesity Rates for 4 Yr Olds

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Acknowledgments  Mike Whaley, IT Director, PHFE WIC  Eloise Jenks, Executive Director, PHFE WIC  Judy Gomez, Director of Planning and Projects, PHFE WIC  Kiran Saluja, Deputy Director, PHFE WIC  Michele van Eyken, Chief, California WIC Program

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