Michelle Obama in her press conference this week adamantly supported breastfeeding and believed that it would aid in reducing childhood obesity.
Dr. Margaret Lewin, MD, clinical assistant professor of medicine at Weill Medical College of Cornell University and medical director of Cinergy Health, offers reasons why Obama's message makes good medical sense:
Exclusive breastfeeding makes leaner babies. This means without the use of other fluids and foods. Studies show that babies who only get breast milk tend to have lower body fat and higher lean mass, and the longer this exclusive breastfeeding persists, the stronger the findings.
Homemade baby food is best. At 4 years old, children are more apt to have a healthy weight depending on the way they were weaned off of breastfeeding as a baby. Those weaned on a diet based on fruit, vegetables and home-prepared foods have a higher lean mass and a lower fat mass.
Breastfeeding starts the school years off right. Those who are exclusively breastfeed for more than six months are associated with a leaner body shape at the age 5, although this association does not persist throughout adolescence or adulthood.
To sum it up ...
"I think breastfeeding is a crucial first step, but a healthy diet must be continued throughout childhood, adolescence and adulthood," Lewin says. "It is also essential to have a regular exercise program and a significantly decrease passive, sedentary activities such as watching TV, using the Internet, playing video games, etc. This takes a persistent effort of the part of the parents, but also of schools and local communities."
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Comments (5)
BRAVO!!!! I think this topic is an excellent choice (child hood obesity) for her to focus on. She is going to make a huge difference for this generation!
I'm sure it's no surprise that that recommendation makes me incredibly happy.
Just from a financial angle as well, if more people would breastfeed exclusively until 6 months and until at least a year, we could save the country billions of dollars. WIC spends over 2 billion on year JUST on formula - and they get it discounted, AND they spend more money than the rest of the country combine who make the purchases themselves. Just promoting breastfeeding can cut down on the costs of WIC and the costs paid out by Medicaid for children's hospital visits.
I agree with RanaAurora and Science_spot. The First Lady is very smart in the first place, but to address an issue that can help mothers and the promotion of healthy children is a absolutely wonderful choice. It would make it easier for mothers to be accepted for breastfeeding their children and maybe men (an silly women) wouldn't look at it as something sexual or vulgar but completely natural, healthy and good for the baby. Now if we could get her to talk to her husband about doing something about the horrific partial birth abortions.
That's awesome! I think if more women realized just how much breastfeeding could benefit their babies they would REALLY try and we wouldn't only have 13% of American babies exclusively breastfed at 6 months.
Rana has a point about the money we'd save as a country. Not only does WIC pay for formula for babies, but often those same babies are on Medicaid and the fact is that formula fed babies get sick more often. It's just sad all around and I think more attention focused on the importance of breastfeeding would benefit EVERYONE, especially babies.