Obesity in Babies: Is Breastfeeding Helping or Hurting?

(istockphoto)

(CBS) In the battle of breast versus bottle, it seems breast has won again.

That's the conclusion of new research from Children's Hospital Boston which finds that babies who are formula fed have a much higher risk of obesity if parents give them solid foods before four months. Breastfed kids can jump on the solids bandwagon whenever mommy feels it's right, as long as they breastfeed at least four months.

Scientists tracked 850 babies from birth to three years old, according to Reuters Health. Formula fed babies who started eating solids before four months had a one in four chance of being obese by their third birthday. If parents waited until after four or five months to introduce solids, the chances of being obese were one in 20.

For babies breastfed at least four months, parents could introduce solids whenever they wanted without any ill effect.

It's important research, because up to one third of American children are now overweight and 17 percent are obese, putting them at risk for heart disease, diabetes and a host of other health problems down the line.

The research was published in Pediatrics.

10 Photos

9 Places "They" Say Not to Breast-Feed

[ds1190]

Ah yes, but we make tradeoffs everyday-- cherrypicking a few horror stories is not going to change that. Breast milk can also be unsafe, depending on what the mother chooses to consume. I am not a bad parent for deciding to feed my child formula, any more than you are a bad parent for (for example), deciding you'd rather read a book after a long day at work than toil in your organic vegetable garden for hours so your children won't have to (gasp!) eat vegetables grown by some unknown farmer or (horror of horrors!) eat something made with frozen vegetables packaged in some unknown factory. Of course we should as a society make every effort to ensure that formula is made safe and healthy, but I do not think that social imperative extends as far as demonizing some poor overworked mother who, having considered the circumstances, makes the best choice for her family.

[ds1190]

And finally, the article doesn't make any sense because even where it discusses breastfeeding, it establishes that no solid food should be administered prior to four months. The only conclusion to be drawn from all this is that babies shouldn't be fed solid food prior to four months, whether they are being breast or formula fed.

[JPCP23]

Notice the use of quotes ("formula nazis") - I was using the term that people throw around about breastfeeding advocates: "breastfeeding nazis." Interesting that it wasn't well received. Its a darn good thing that all parents from the beginning of time until the 1940s were "breastfeeding nazis"...

Powder in a can will never substitute for breastmilk, that's not advice (solicited or unsolicited) that's simple truth. Anything made in a factory can't be guaranteed safe - and formula is no exception. Ask all of the parents whose children have died or have been made ill from feeding them tainted formula - in the U.S., in China, in Latin America, in Africa - it happens everywhere - maybe not to any of your neighbors...yet, but it happens more than you think.

- By November 2008, China reported an estimated 300,000 victims, with six infants dying from kidney stones and other kidney damage, and a further 860 babies hospitalised.
- At least 84 children have died in Nigeria after ingesting a teething formula tainted with a thickening agent normally found in brake fluid. The health ministry issued a statement saying 111 children have been sickened since the poisonous batch of "My Pikin Baby Teething Mixture" hit shelves in November 2009.
- Abbott Laboratories Inc said it is recalling millions of containers of its top-selling Similac powdered infant formulas after beetles were found in the products and in a Michigan plant where they are made. (2010)
- A chemical used in explosives, fireworks and rocket fuel has been found in powdered baby formula in the United States, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) non-profit group said Friday. In "little-noticed findings", researchers at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 15 brands of baby milk contained perchlorate, an oxidizer in solid fuels used in explosives, fireworks, road flares and rocket motors, the EWG said. (2009)
- Sept. 15, 2006 - Abbott recalled about 300,000 bottles of Similac Advance and Similac Alimentum Advance baby formula because the bottles were manufactured without a special plastic layer that keeps air away from the formula. When oxygen is in contact with the formula, it can reduce the vitamin C content.
Feb. 2005 - One lot of Similac Advance with Iron was recalled because a manufacturing problem resulted in black plastic particles being found in some cans of formula. The 12.9 oz. cans have lot number 20307RB printed on the bottom.

I don't care if children are smarter or thinner or nicer - milk coming out of human breasts wasn't made in a factory in China and packaged in mystery metal can or a plastic container leeching chemicals into milk from a cow eating who know's what and living who knows where...

[ds1190]

It's so funny and ironic that the first commenter, above, is calling formula-feeders "formula nazis." The vast majority of formula feeders are just people who are making the choice to feed their babies formula. They're not trying to convert anyone or to change anyone's mind-- just to make their own decisions about what is best for them and their children. Proponents of breastfeeding, on the other hand, go around spewing out hateful comments online and stopping to give random women unsolicited and unwanted advice.

[JPCP23]

I'm pretty disgusted by this sensationalized journalism - the author should be ashamed. As the article explains, breastfeeding is LOWERING the obesity risk. So why is the article titled "Is it helping or hurting?"?? Obviously to stir the pot and draw in readers.

But what about people who just skim headlines and assume from this article's title, that breastfeeding is having a negative impact on obesity. One more reason for "formula-nazis" to get excited and remind the world that they are "validated" in their decision.

Shame on you CBS - controversy might increase your readership, but you are mis-educating a country that can't afford any more mis-education.

[erasmus111]

What they need to be doing is stopping all these stupid surveys and studies because most of the time they are bullcrap. One minute somethings good and the next they find that it makes no difference.

I know people that have not breast fed and people that have. I see no difference. I see breast fed kids that get sick all the time, and also that are fat. ????

There was an article about there being more ear infections in children that didn't breast feed. My neighbor breast fed her child and the kid had ear infections constantly.