Breastfeeding May Reduce Risk Of Obesity

A new study shows that eating solid food later in life may prevent obesity.  With obesity on the rise in North America it is essential as parents to do what you can to help prevent your child from becoming obese.  One strategy is to breastfeed longer. Breast milk contains many of the antibodies, vitamins and minerals a baby needs to build a strong immune system and fight off infection and disease.  It is also easily digestible for an infant.

Studies have already shown that breastfeeding longer can be beneficial for a childs health. One study in Australia followed over 2,000 infants and found that the babies breastfed for longer then six months had less risk of mental health issues and were able to cope with stress better then those who were breastfed for 6 months or less.

A study in Copenhagen, by Dr. Kim Fleischer Michaelson took 5,068 men and women and noted whether they were breastfed early or started eating solid foods early.   They did show that babies breastfed longer had a lower BMI (body mass index) or body fat at the age of one. Although they didn't determine the effect breastfeeding had on body fat in adulthood, they did determine that introducing solid foods later would result in a lower BMI on adulthood.  Dr. Michaelson said that each month that complimentary foods were delayed there was a 5 to 10 percent decrease in the risk of being overweight at age 42.

As breastfeeding is a very natural stage in early childhood, it makes sense that mother nature would prevail over the products you find on the shelf.  Can we depend on companies to provide healthier alternatives to breast milk such as baby food and formulas? Or can we depend on ourselves to feed our babies solid foods that will meet all the requirements for their health?  Many mothers will agree that there is a natural process to motherhood that is much stronger then the commercialized alternatives today.  With our busy lives, many mothers are weening babies off breastfeeding due to their own busy lives or desire for comfort, rather then taking the time and care needed for those important developmental years.  More and more studies come out that show the benefits of this natural process.

It is important to state that every child is different, and that some may require complimentary foods at an earlier age and some may not.  The length of breatsfeeding is very much dependant on the mother and child.  According to the American Acedemy of Pediatrics, babies should be breastfed for the first six months exclusively and that they encourage motthers to breastfeed up until at least 12 months.

For more information on the child obesityplease visit the Child Obesity Foundation.  And for more information on children's health concerns please visit American Acamdemy of Pediatrics.