Obesity is a hot topic globally. Governments and health care providers should support mothers and families in breastfeeding, to guarantee the best nutrition possible for the child, and avoid childhood obesity (UNICEF 2020.)

Obesity and breastfeeding

Obesity is a disease that has multiple negative health effects, and it can also shorten the life expectancy. Childhood obesity and obesity in general should be prevented by starting intervention in early stage (Deal et al. 2020.) Obesity can be seen within every social class, in both sexes and in all ages. Both heredity and environmental factors influence the development of weight (Pietiläinen 2015.)

Breastfeeding has been found to have many physiological and psychological benefits. From a health perspective, breastfeeding can improve the child’s and the mother’s quality of life and save lives of new-borns globally (Hakulinen, et al. 2017) The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends breastfeeding for the child’s first two years of life (Bellù & Condò 2017.)

Methods

Descriptive literature review method was used in Kallio’s thesis to find evidence on relationship between breastfeeding and childhood obesity and whether breastfeeding prevents childhood obesity. Data was yielded from CINAHL Ultimate, MEDIC and PubMed databases. Data-driven thematic content data analysis was used to enable summarised descriptions of the selected articles to describe the information of the research material without it losing its value.

Discussion

The possible connection between breastfeeding and childhood obesity are gut bacteria, self-regulation and later introduction to solids (Murray 2022.), therefore mothers should be prompted to breastfeed their children for a minimum of six months. It has been shown that exclusive breastfeeding lessens the risk of overweight/obesity in future life (Uwaezuoke et al. 2017.)

Nutrition is not the only function of breast milk, but it has other benefits and important tasks such as delivering the growth factors and hormones to regulate the development of the intestines, nervous system and circulatory system, as well as growth and metabolism in general. Breastmilk provides immunological defence, immunoglobulins and cytokines to protect the child from infections and inflammation, which promote the development of the child’s own defences (Young & McGuire 2020.) Breastfeeding provides important health benefits to the child (Bellù & Condò 2017.) throughout the child’s life.

Conclusions

Based on the analysis of the research, it can be concluded that breastfeeding and childhood obesity are associated with each other. There is also evidence that breastfeeding prevents childhood obesity. Several studies suggested that more quality studies should be conducted to define if the association between breastfeeding and childhood obesity is absolute or hides behind other factors. Also, an important aspect found was that health care professionals should promote breastfeeding more and train and support parents in breastfeeding.

Authors:

Kami Kallio, Master’s program in Global Public Health, Savonia University of Applied Sciences

Maria Luojus, Principal lecturer, Savonia University of Applied Sciences

References:

Bellù R,& Condò M. 2017. Breastfeeding promotion: evidence and problems. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28673077/

Deal, B.J, Huffman, M.D, Binns, H, Stone, N.J. 2020. Perspective: Childhood Obesity Requires New Strategies for Prevention, Advances in Nutrition, Volume 11, Issue 5. Pages 1071-1078. https://doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmaa040. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2161831322000436.

Hakulinen T, Otronen K, Kuronen M. (toim.), 2017. Kansallinen imetyksen edistämisen toimintaohjelma vuosille 2018-2022. Suomen Yliopistopaino Oy. Pages 20- 25, 81.

Murray, D, 2022. How Breastfeeding Helps Prevent Obesity. Verywell Family. https://www.verywellfamily.com/prevent-obesity-in-the-breastfed-baby-431733

Pietiläinen K, Mustajoki P, and Borg P. 2015. Lihavuus. Duodecim. 1.painos. Pages 8-9.

UNICEF, 2020. City of Amsterdam, EAT, The Amsterdam Healthy Weight Approach: Investing in healthy urban childhoods: A case study on healthy diets for children. The Amsterdam Healthy Weight Programme. https://www.unicef.org/media/89401/file/Amsterdam-Healthy-Weight-Approach-Investing-healthy-urban-childhoods.pdf

Uwaezuoke, S.N., Eneh, C.I. & Ndu, I. K, 2017. Relationship Between Exclusive Breastfeeding and Lower Risk of Childhood Obesity: A Narrative Review of Published Evidence. Clinical Medicine Insights: Pediatrics 1–7. https://web-p-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.savonia.fi/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=0&sid=f3b20e99-27d1-47b2-983d-474dbe62e10a%40redis

Young, L, McGuire, W, 2020. Immunologic Properties of Human Milk and Clinical Implications in the Neonatal Population. https://publications.aap.org/neoreviews/article-abstract/21/12/e809/92148/Immunologic-Properties-of-Human-Milk-and-Clinical?redirectedFrom=fulltext