Fact and Fiction Associated With Breastfeeding and Obesity

Introduction

The health benefits of breastfeeding have been extensively researched and documented by the scientific community. However, certain unsupported beliefs remain persistent even in the presence of contradicting results. The correlation between breastfeeding and obesity is one such domain that is frequently under debate. This article explores some truths and myths related to breastfeeding and obesity.

What Is Meant by Breastfeeding?

It is well known that breast milk is an exclusive optimal nutritional source for newborns and babies. Lactation and breastfeeding cover a wide range of benefits, such as improved gastrointestinal tolerance, reduced risk of infections, proper availability of nutrients, and so on. It also has positive effects on mothers’ health.

In recent times, the term breast milk has been replaced by “human milk", which is more appropriate, asexual, and descriptive. Also, the term human milk includes not only breastfed milk but also other forms by which human milk could be fed to babies. The following are a few typical methods of feeding -

• Direct Breastfeeding - This is the conventional method where the baby suckles the milk directly from the mammary glands through the nipple.

• Mother’s Own Milk (MOM) - Human milk is expressed or pumped into bottles and delivered to infants or stored for later use. This practice is commonly followed when mother and baby are separated due to job or career options and other concerns. Mother’s own milk is the best option for preterm or low birth weight babies who are under neonatal intensive care since direct feeding is not possible.

• Donor Human Milk (DHM) - Involves milk expression, collection, effective storage, and donation of human milk. It is widely used to feed adopted babies and for infants where breastfeeding is contraindicated (medical illness of the mother). Donor human milk is available in homes, hospitals, and milk banks.

What Are the Causes of Obesity?

Obesity is a complex metabolic disorder characterized by an individual's excessive or increased weight higher than the normal healthy weight in relation to that individual's age and height. Obesity affects both adults and children. Multiple factors, such as eating patterns, reduced physical activity, genetics, and certain medications, are responsible for increased weight gain.

Obesity among children is still more alarming because overweight and obese children have a higher chance of remaining obese into adulthood also and are at more risk of developing noncommunicable disorders such as diabetes, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases at a comparatively younger age.

The widely accepted causes and factors that lead to the development of obesity in both adults as well as children are as follows -

• A discrepancy between energy expenditure (physical activity) and intake (food).

• Genetic background.

• Hormonal imbalance.

• Inactive lifestyle.

• Excessive food consumption.

• High-fat diet.

• Parenting style associated with their lifestyles.

• Distinct parental feeding practices, including overfeeding and authoritative feeding.

• Increased consumption of fast foods.

• Sugary beverages and drinks.

• Salty snacks with high preservative content.

• Eating large amounts of food raises the level needed to feel satisfied by hunger, which leads to overindulging in food.

• Environmental concerns such as limited sidewalks or risky surroundings make walking harder, and individuals choose to drive even for short distances.

• Psychological factors like stress eating.

What Are the Facts Associated With Breastfeeding and Obesity?

Breastfeeding is universally acknowledged to be the most effective way to provide neonates with appropriate nutrition, both in the short and long term. Repeatable, validated observations or measurements that produce genuine, reproducible data are referred to as "scientific facts." These facts are frequently based on scientific theories or hypotheses.

Plenty of such facts link the advantages of breastfeeding to its effects on people's health. Breast milk has been shown to provide several significant health benefits, including reducing the risk of infection, boosting a baby's immune by transferring the mother's antibodies to the infant, and improving mental health. The concept that nursing helps reduce obesity is one of the most significant health benefits of breastfeeding. Some verified facts about breastfeeding and obesity are listed below.

• For the first six months of life, the newborn can only be breastfed because it is readily digested and provides enough nutrition.

• Breastfed newborns can self-regulate their food intake according to their filing threshold.

• Encouraging babies to eat by following their hunger cues and using their suckling mechanism helps ensure they get enough milk and avoid overfeeding.

• Breastfeeding helps the baby develop healthy eating habits and appropriate portion sizes, which significantly lowers the baby's chance of becoming obese because of larger serving sizes and higher food intake.

• An increased risk of food allergies, overweight, and developing childhood obesity are linked to the early cessation of breastfeeding and the introduction of formula feeds or solid foods (cereal and jarred baby food).

• Research indicates that overfeeding during infancy, even with breastfeeding, increases the risk of obesity in later life.

• Research on nutrition in humans has demonstrated a link between childhood obesity at age eight and a rapid increase in weight during the first six weeks of neonatal life.

• Children who were breastfed for an extended period have a considerably lower incidence of overweight and obesity.

• Exclusive breastfeeding helps breastfeeding mothers lose weight, and this benefit is frequently linked to healthy hormone balance.

What Are the Myths Related to Breastfeeding and Obesity?

Myths are long-standing beliefs that have been shown to contradict scientific data. Encouraging such unproven views frequently deceives the scientific community and the general public, resulting in erroneous clinical and public health decisions.

Some of the commonly persistent myths (fiction) associated with breastfeeding and obesity are as follows -

• The most prevalent belief is that obesity may be avoided by breastfeeding. Reports that indicate breastfed children are less likely to become obese are now available, although they are based on observational studies that were conducted in small groups as independent investigations. To validate this idea, larger-scale randomized experiments with precise control over confounding (influencing criteria) variables are required.

• Based on available research, it appears that breast milk does not directly prevent childhood obesity. However, it may have an indirect effect by influencing eating patterns that are linked to obesity.

• Another common myth is that breastfeeding helps nursing mothers become less obese. Without a doubt, lactation aids in regulating ovarian and lactating hormones, which helps to avoid the buildup of excess fat due to hormonal fluctuations. However, it is untrue, and it has not been scientifically demonstrated yet that breastfeeding burns more calories and lowers the risk of obesity. Breastfeeding causes an increase in energy consumption, which in turn causes an increase in food intake. Weight gain may result from unplanned food consumption brought on by hunger triggers and inadequate exercise or physical activity.

Conclusion

There is a huge prevalence of facts and myths interconnecting breastfeeding and obesity among the present population. The number of people using the internet to look up scientific recommendations and facts is rapidly increasing. Unjustified beliefs are easily accessible and have the potential to mislead the public, causing unnecessary concern and mistrust. To create an informed global society, the scientific community must share truthful medical information and health recommendations in an accountable and transparent manner.