The power of breastmilk for babies is already well-established as breastfeeding offers children the healthiest start in life and perfect infant nutrition. A complete food that contains the energy, vitamins, and minerals that a child needs for optimum growth and development for 0-6 months old.

As we all know, breastmilk prevents undernutrition, infections such as ear infections, diarrhea, and other bacterial and viral infections. It also lowers the risk of having allergies and has been linked to higher IQ scores in later childhood. In addition to that, breastfeeding also prevents obesity in children.

Several studies suggest that breastfeeding is a significant protective factor against obesity in children. It can cut the chances of a child becoming obese by up to 25% according to the study conducted by World Health Organization.

Although pathway on how breastfeeding works in protecting children from obesity is still unlear yet, there are some possible mechanisms suggested by WHO:

• Exclusive breastfeeding prevents early introduction of other foods which can lead to unhealthy weight gain.
• Breastfeeding protects the risk of excess protein and energy intake compared to feeding with formula milk.
• Breastfeeding helps populate the child’s body with ‘good’ bacteria from his or her mother providing protection against excessive weight gain.
• Breastmilk contains hormones and other biological factors involved in the regulation of food intake and energy balance.
• Feeding of infant formula by bottle may interfere with a child’s recognition of satiety and thus lead to overeating.

Childhood obesity has immediate effects on child’s health and well-being and may increase the risk to adult obesity and non-communicable diseases later in life. As global rates of overweight continue to rise, the role of breastfeeding in prevention is critical. In the Philippines, according to the National Nutrition Survey in 2015, prevalence of overweight and obesity among children less than 5 years old is at 3.9% which significantly decreased from 5.1% in 2013. Although the data implied a positive note, we need to continue our efforts in advocating breastfeeding as we face the double burden of malnutrition. As always been recommended, infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life and thereafter should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods, while continuing breastfeeding for up to two years or beyond.

Written by: NO II Bianca Estrella

References:

DOST – Food and Nutrition Research Institute. (2016). 2015 Regional Dissemination: The Double Burden of Malnutrition in the Philippines (MIMAROPA). Retrieved from: http://enutrition.fnri.dost.gov.ph/site/uploads/2015-Regional-Dissemination-MIMAROPA_Results_for_double_burden.pdf

Global Breastfeeding Collective. (2020). Advocacy Brief: Breastfeeding and Prevention of Overweight in Children. Retrieved from: https://www.globalbreastfeedingcollective.org/media/221/file/Breastfeeding%20and%20prevention%20of%20overweight%20in%20children%20-%20ENGLISH.pdf

Moreno, M.A., (2011). Breastfeeding as Obesity Prevention. Retrieved from: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/1107563

Obesity Action Coalition. (2020). Breastfeeding and its Role in the Prevention of Obesity. Retrieved from: https://www.obesityaction.org/community/news/community-news/breastfeeding-and-its-role-in-the-prevention-of-obesity/

Rito, AI, Buoncristiano, M, Spinelli, A, (2019). Association between Characteristics at Birth, Breastfeeding and Obesity in 22 Countries: The WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative – COSI 2015/2017. Retrieved from: https://www.karger.com/Article/Fulltext/500425

World Health Organization. (2014). Exclusive breastfeeding to reduce the risk of childhood overweight and obesity. Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/elena/titles/bbc/breastfeeding_childhood_obesity/en/

Yan, J., Liu, L., Zhu, Y., Huang, G and Wang, P.P. (2014). The association between breastfeeding and childhood obesity: a meta-analysis. Retrieved from: https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-14-1267