Breastfeeding a child might increase the chances of that child developing healthy eating habits in later life according to a new report partially funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Researchers observed more than 1,500 mothers and concluded that those who were able to breastfeed their children for a longer period of time produced six year-olds with healthier eating preferences. The accumulation of 11 studies that were used to draw this conclusion was published in a supplemental section to the journal Pediatrics.
The children who were breast-fed for longer ate a larger quantity of fruits and vegetables, ate less sugary foods and drank less sweetened drinks, they also consumed more water. These finding may provide some information that can be used by health officials who are trying to understand the current rise in obesity rates, and how people’s long-term eating habits are influenced by what they consume in early life.
The researchers also discovered that the children who had been introduced to foods such as fruits and vegetables at an early age were more likely to enjoy eating these foods in later life. The data showed that infants who were given these types of food before the age of one year old ate more of them than those who were not exposed to them early on in life.healthy food
This finding worked both ways in terms of sweetened beverages. Mothers who give their children sweetened drinks before the age of one year old found that their children were more drawn to drinking sweetened juices at the age of six. The researchers also found that the duration of time that the child was breastfed for made a difference to the diet that they chose in later life. Children who had been breastfed for a longer time tended to prefer healthier foods.
There was no correlation shown however, between the incidence of children who preferred to consume foods like milk, sweet snacks and savory snacks in later life with the duration of breastfeeding. This indicates that more research needs to be done before a conclusion can be drawn regarding lifelong eating practices and breastfeeding duration.
Kelly Scanlon, researcher for the CDC, says that data such as this really underlines the reasons that mothers should adhere to the standards as set by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The recommendations are that whenever possible, children should be breastfed until they are one year of age. For the first six months of life, children should only be given breast milk, however, after this the breast milk should be supplemented with healthy food additions.
Foods that are introduced after the six month mark should be ones which are nutrient dense, rich in vitamins and minerals according to the guidelines. According to Scanlon, breast milk actually exposes children to a variety of flavors, studies have shown that because of this, babies fed breast milk are more accepting of new flavors than those fed formula are.
Dr. David Katz, director at Yale University Prevention Research Center, says that the findings deepen the understanding that breastfeeding is a healthy activity for mothers and children, and one that should be encouraged.“For all mammals, our first food is breast milk,” Katz states.
The research also showed that children who were breastfed for longer had a lower risk of infections in the ear, nose and throat areas. The study published this week in Pediatrics has suggested that breastfeeding may increase the potential that a child will choose to eat healthy foods in later life.
BDST: 1853 HRS, SEP-04, 2014
