title: Obesity and breastfeeding: The strength of association.
abstract: Obesity and attendant co-morbidities are an emergent problem in public health. Much attention has focused on prevention, especially during the perinatal period. Breastfeeding is considered a possible protective factor for obesity in childhood, influencing gene-neuroendocrine-environment-lifestyle interaction. Therefore, breastfeeding and its longer duration are probably associated with lower development of childhood obesity. Through human milk, but not formula, the child assumes greater bioactive factors contributing to immunological, endocrine, development, neural and psychological benefits. Contrarily, other studies did not confirm a critical role of breast milk. Confounding factors, especially maternal pre-pregnancy overweight, may influence breastfeeding effects. This review summarises what is known about the possible relationship between breastfeeding and prevention of obesity development.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Breastfeeding appears to represent a protective factor for obesity in childhood, although evidence is still controversial and underlying mechanisms unclear. Further research is needed to improve knowledge on overweight/obesity and breastfeeding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Messina, Messina, Italy. Electronic address: lmarseglia@unime.it.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marseglia
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Messina, Messina, Italy. Electronic address: saramanti@hotmail.it.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manti
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Messina, Messina, Italy. Electronic address: gadridangelo@alice.it.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Angelo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Messina, Messina, Italy. Electronic address: katia.cuppari@libero.it.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cuppari
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Messina, Messina, Italy. Electronic address: salpietroenzo@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Salpietro
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. Electronic address: martina.filippelli@hotmail.it.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Filippelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. Electronic address: antonio.trovato@hotmail.it.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trovato
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Messina, Messina, Italy. Electronic address: egitto@unime.it.
authors.forename: Eloisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gitto
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Messina, Messina, Italy. Electronic address: cdsalpietro@unime.it.
authors.forename: Carmelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Salpietro
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Messina, Messina, Italy. Electronic address: tarrigo@unime.it.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arrigo
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D050177:Overweight / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D065840:Protective Factors
keywords: Breastfeeding; Endocrine system; Formula feeding; Maternal overweight; Obesity