BMJ  2003;327:879-880 (18 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7420.879

Editorial

Breast feeding and obesity

The evidence regarding its effect on obesity is inconclusive

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

In many developed countries childhood overweight and obesity have reached epidemic proportions.¹ Moreover, the sequelae of obesity are now seen in children.² Fortunately efforts are being made to understand the causes of overweight and obesity, and the part played by breast feeding is also being studied. The short term benefits of breast feeding are not doubted, and it is the safest, most economical, and most convenient way to promote infant health and nutrition on a global scale.³ Increasing evidence^4-8 shows that having been breast fed may have longer term benefits, including prevention of obesity; but this evidence is uncertain.^{9 10} Two articles in this issue evaluate whether having been breast fed protects against later obesity.^{11 12} Neither finds evidence to say that it does. Why the contradictory findings? Although there is no easy answer to this question, the explanation may be that the studies examining early infant nutrition and later obesity are . . . [Full text of this article]

Chalmers Research Group, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, K1H 8L1 Canada (tclifford@cheo.on.ca)

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Relevant Articles

Anthropometry and body composition of 18 year old men according to duration of breast feeding: birth cohort study from Brazil

Cesar G Victora, Fernando Barros, Rosângela C Lima, Bernardo L Horta, and Jonathan Wells
BMJ 2003 327: 901. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Breast feeding and obesity in childhood: cross sectional study

L Li, T J Parsons, and C Power
BMJ 2003 327: 904-905. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Rudnicka, A. R., Owen, C. G., Strachan, D. P. (2007). The Effect of Breastfeeding on Cardiorespiratory Risk Factors in Adult Life. Pediatrics 119: e1107-e1115 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Burdette, H. L, Whitaker, R. C, Hall, W. C, Daniels, S. R (2006). Breastfeeding, introduction of complementary foods, and adiposity at 5 y of age. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 83: 550-558 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Martin, R. M, Ben-Shlomo, Y., Gunnell, D., Elwood, P., Yarnell, J. W G, Davey Smith, G. (2005). Breast feeding and cardiovascular disease risk factors, incidence, and mortality: the Caerphilly study. J. Epidemiol. Community Health 59: 121-129 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Miller, J., Rosenbloom, A., Silverstein, J. (2004). Childhood Obesity. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 89: 4211-4218 [Full text]  

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