Preventing obesity starts with breastfeeding.
Preventing obesity starts with breastfeeding. An infant's nutrition at birth affects not only short-term health outcomes but also the health of that person as a child, adolescent, and adult. This article examines major findings that all conclude that any breastfeeding will help protect an infant from obesity and overweight. Research supports that the more exclusive and longer a child is breastfed, the more protection from overweight and obesity is conferred. Mechanisms of action are explored in this article. It is of paramount importance to provide evidence-based lactation support and care to families to improve the incidence, exclusivity, and duration of breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is one concrete method to address the obesity epidemic that is growing worldwide.
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Diane L
DL
Spatz
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors