Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions in this country. Would it surprise you to learn that over thirty percent of children now classified as either overweight or obese? Not only does being overweight during childhood have social implications, but it can affect childhood health as well as increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes even as an adult. Plus, an overweight child is more likely to grow into an overweight or obese adult. Although much of the obesity seen in children can be attributed to poor eating habits and lack of exercise, a recent study shows that how a baby is fed by its mom during infancy may play an important role in determining weight during early childhood. More specifically, longer periods of breastfeeding may help to reduce childhood obesity, at least during the early years of childhood. Could breastfeeding for longer periods be a way to prevent childhood obesity?

This finding which was published in the Journal of Nutrition showed that breastfeeding babies was correlated with a lower BMI, a measure that determines whether or not a person is overweight. When compared to babies who were bottle fed, breastfed babies were found to have lower BMI’s at one year of age. Unfortunately, this protective effect appeared to be lost as the child grew older and by the age of seven, the rates of obesity were similar between children who were breastfed and those who were bottle fed.

Why was this association between breastfeeding and obesity seen? The researchers aren’t sure whether breastfeeding itself reduces childhood obesity or whether mothers who breastfeed have certain behaviors and characteristics that play a role in preventing obesity in the young child. It’s possible that the close interaction between mother and baby that occurs with breastfeeding may somehow alter obesity risk in an infant.

Although breastfeeding may reduce childhood obesity during infancy and early childhood, it doesn’t appear, at least according to this study, to be a long term solution to the problem. Several other studies have looked at the effect of breastfeeding on both adult and childhood obesity. The results have been inconsistent with some studies showing a protective effect and others showing no association. It’s possible that breastfeeding may have some positive effect in preventing childhood obesity that extends beyond early childhood, although it seems unlikely that it will be as strong of a factor as genetics and lifestyle factors. The word is still out on how strong a role breastfeeding might play in preventing childhood obesity. Hopefully, future studies will provide more answers.