Breastfed Babies Have Less Risk Of Being Overweight In Childhood
September 26, 2006 7:41 p.m. EST
Yvonne Lee - All Headline News Staff Reporter
(AHN) - A new study suggests that mothers who breastfeed their babies reduce their risk of becoming overweight children when compared to those who are fed formula.
The risk of being overweight in childhood was reduced by about 34% in babies that were breastfed. This holds true even if the mothers were obese or had diabetes.
Researchers analyzed data from a study involving more than 15,000 children.
Elizabeth J. Mayer-Davis, PhD, said breastfeeding could help halt the cycle of weight gain and diabetes among children whose mothers have diabetes.
She told WebMD, "It is important for mothers who have diabetes or who are at risk for developing the disease to know that there are things that they can do for their children that can make a real difference."
Government statistics from 2003-2004 show that more than 12.5 million children and teens in the United States are overweight. This means about 17.1% of children and teens aged 2 to 19 are overweight.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage of youths who are overweight in the U.S. has more than tripled since 1980.
There has also been an increase in the incidence of type 2 diabetes, a disease that corresponds to obesity and being overweight.
The CDC's Katherine Shealy told WebMD that it is now widely accepted that breastfeeding is instrumental in helping babies fight off extra weight and obesity.
An analysis of 17 studies found that for every month a baby is breastfed, the risk of being overweight in childhood is reduced by 4%. Babies who were breastfed for nine months had a 31% reduction in risk.
However, prior studies have not shown whether breastfeeding protects babies who come from families with a history of obesity and diabetes.
Childhood Obesity and Breastfeeding