Breastfeeding provides a number of benefits to infants and
mothers (www.cdc.gov), benefits that include:
- Boosting infant immune systems
- Providing balanced nutrition for growing infants
- Supports developmental growth
- Promotes bonding and attachment between infants and mothers
- Reduces the mother’s risks of breast and ovarian cancers.
- Reduces the risks of childhood obesity
Some research suggests that breastfeeding acts as a
protective factor against obesity and associated illnesses (Ryan, A. 2007). One study examined breastfeeding rates among
low-income children in Kansas (Procter and Holcomb, 2008). The researches found that the protective factors of breastfeeding for infants of mothers with high pre-pregnancy body mass indexes (BMI) were "negated or offset" when coupled with formula feeding for 9 weeks or more (p.109). Several studies (Bogen, Hanusa, and Whitaker, 2004) and (Grummer-Strawn, and Mei, 2004) indicated that the protective factors of breastfeeding were prevalent in non-Hispanic White children. While various studies present conflicting data on whether
breastfeeding infants has a direct link to better weight outcomes in childhood,
the overall consensus is that breastfeeding provides protective factors, but can be mitigated by other factors (i.e. maternal health, environmental, SES, etc.) and should not be considered as an independent factor for obesity prevention. Providing breastfeeding support to new mothers improves the chances that they will successfully breastfeed for the recommended duration of at least one year.
Percentage of US hospitals with recommended policies and practices to support breastfeeding, 2007 and 2009
SOURCE: CDC National Survey of Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC)
Efforts to encourage mothers to breastfeed involve pre-, peri-, and
post-natal education on proper infant nutrition, which has the added effect of creating a foundation for parental practices that emphasize the importance of healthy nutrition in early childhood.
Bogen, D. L.,
Hanusa, B. H., and Whitaker, R. C. (2004) The Effect of Breast-Feeding with and
without Formula Use on the Risk of Obesity at 4 Years of Age. Obesity Research,
12 (9), 1527-1535.
Grummer-Strawn, L. M., Mei, Z. (2004) Does Breastfeeding
protect against pediatric overweight? Analysis of longitudinal Data from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Pediatric Nutriotion Surveillance
System. Pediatrics, 113(2), e81-e86.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Perrine, C. G., Shealy, K. R., Scanlon, K. S.,
Grummer-Strawn, L. M., Galuska, D. A., Dee, D. L., and Cohen, J. H. (2011).
Vital Signs: Hospital Practices to Support Breastfeeding -- United States, 2007
and 2009. MMWR: Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report, 60(30), 1020-1025.
Procter, S. B., and Holcomb, C. A. (2008). Breastfeeding
duration and childhood overweight among low-income children in Kansas,
1998-2002. American Journal Of Public Health, 98(1), 106-110.
doi:10.2105/AJPH.2006.101683
Ryan, A. (2007). Breastfeeding and the risk of childhood
obesity. Collegium Antropologicum, 31(1), 19-28.
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