Breastfeeding and Later Obesity
Breastfeeding and Later Obesity
Study Fails to Find Protective Benefit From Breastfeeding for Adult Overweight
Michels says public health messages that encourage breastfeeding as a strategy for reducing later obesity overstate the case for a protective benefit.
But the chief of the nutrition branch for the CDC disagrees.
Though there is little evidence that protection lasts until adulthood, Laurence Grummer-Strawn, PhD, says the research as a whole continues to support a protective role for breastfeeding, at least in early life.
“The best evidence we have indicates that the [protective] effect probably diminishes over time, and that is what this study shows,” he tells WebMD. “It is not very surprising that the evidence would fail to show a benefit for breastfeeding 40 years later.”
Women in the U.S. who breastfeed tend to be better educated and more economically advantaged than women who choose not to breastfeed their babies. They also tend to lead healthier lifestyles, with the assumption that they promote healthier behaviors in their children.
Grummer-Strawn acknowledges that these socioeconomic influences may explain the link between breastfeeding and lower childhood body weight. But even if this proves to be the case, there are still plenty of good reasons to breastfeed.
Among other things, breastfed babies have a lower risk for developing ear infections, respiratory illness, and diarrhea early in life.
“The jury is still out on whether there is a causal relationship (between breastfeeding and childhood body weight),” Grummer-Strawn says. “The CDC continues to promote breastfeeding for a number of health reasons, including the possible prevention of overweight in children.”
Breastfeeding and Later Obesity
Study Fails to Find Protective Benefit From Breastfeeding for Adult Overweight
‘Jury Still Out’
Michels says public health messages that encourage breastfeeding as a strategy for reducing later obesity overstate the case for a protective benefit.
But the chief of the nutrition branch for the CDC disagrees.
Though there is little evidence that protection lasts until adulthood, Laurence Grummer-Strawn, PhD, says the research as a whole continues to support a protective role for breastfeeding, at least in early life.
“The best evidence we have indicates that the [protective] effect probably diminishes over time, and that is what this study shows,” he tells WebMD. “It is not very surprising that the evidence would fail to show a benefit for breastfeeding 40 years later.”
Women in the U.S. who breastfeed tend to be better educated and more economically advantaged than women who choose not to breastfeed their babies. They also tend to lead healthier lifestyles, with the assumption that they promote healthier behaviors in their children.
Grummer-Strawn acknowledges that these socioeconomic influences may explain the link between breastfeeding and lower childhood body weight. But even if this proves to be the case, there are still plenty of good reasons to breastfeed.
Among other things, breastfed babies have a lower risk for developing ear infections, respiratory illness, and diarrhea early in life.
“The jury is still out on whether there is a causal relationship (between breastfeeding and childhood body weight),” Grummer-Strawn says. “The CDC continues to promote breastfeeding for a number of health reasons, including the possible prevention of overweight in children.”
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