I read an interesting article in today's Sydney Morning Herald:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/Health/Baby-feedobesity-link/2005/04/19/1113854172328.html
In summary it says that baby's on formula for the first week of their life are more likely to be obese in adulthood.
What do you think? I have a mixed reaction:
1. I think obesity is largely a self inflicted problem - eating too much of the wrong food and exercising too little. Mothers who breastfeed are likely to do so because they have been educated about food choices, especially that breast is best. Therefore, those mothers are likely to make better food choices for their children as they grow and their children are likely to learn good eating habits. Therefore, it has nothing to do with breastmilk, just about education and eating habits.
That is NOT to say that people who formula feed from birth are not educated - this isn't a breast vs formula debate. There are lots of good reasons for choosing formula from day 1 and certainly not all formula fed babies grow up fat ! All I'm saying is that if you are educated about how good breastmilk is for your baby, you are more likely to give it a go.
2. In my family (in the 1970's, not much support for b/feeding), my oldest brother and I were breastfed for 6 weeks and then switched to formula on medical advice. Neither of us are overweight (but hey, I'm no supermodel). With my youngest brother, mum's milk never came in and he was formula fed from day 1. My youngest brother is overweight, although not obese and he was never a fat child. But he drinks too much beer, so that's probably it.
Just thought it would be interesting to hear other laymans views. I'm not medically trained nor a scientist, just an interested mum.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/Health/Baby-feedobesity-link/2005/04/19/1113854172328.html
In summary it says that baby's on formula for the first week of their life are more likely to be obese in adulthood.
What do you think? I have a mixed reaction:
1. I think obesity is largely a self inflicted problem - eating too much of the wrong food and exercising too little. Mothers who breastfeed are likely to do so because they have been educated about food choices, especially that breast is best. Therefore, those mothers are likely to make better food choices for their children as they grow and their children are likely to learn good eating habits. Therefore, it has nothing to do with breastmilk, just about education and eating habits.
That is NOT to say that people who formula feed from birth are not educated - this isn't a breast vs formula debate. There are lots of good reasons for choosing formula from day 1 and certainly not all formula fed babies grow up fat ! All I'm saying is that if you are educated about how good breastmilk is for your baby, you are more likely to give it a go.
2. In my family (in the 1970's, not much support for b/feeding), my oldest brother and I were breastfed for 6 weeks and then switched to formula on medical advice. Neither of us are overweight (but hey, I'm no supermodel). With my youngest brother, mum's milk never came in and he was formula fed from day 1. My youngest brother is overweight, although not obese and he was never a fat child. But he drinks too much beer, so that's probably it.
Just thought it would be interesting to hear other laymans views. I'm not medically trained nor a scientist, just an interested mum.