Common knowledge believes that breastfeeding reduces risk of obesity among infants. However, this recent study from the University of Southern California has associated breast milk to obesity as reported by United Press International (UPI) on Oct. 28. USC researchers unearthed certain components in breast milk that may transmit obesity from mother to child.
The study findings showed that human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) in mothers' milk can make breastfed babies fatter. HMOs greatly influence infant growth rates and may affect their weight in the later years. The said process starts immediately: before infants turn six months old, they are already at risk of being overweight.
"This research is the first to identify variations in HMOs as a possible protective or risk factor for obesity," Tanya Alderete, lead author and a postdoctoral research scholar at USC said.
"At 6 months of age, higher breast milk levels of LNFPII and DSLNT were each associated with approximately 1 pound of greater fat mass," Alderete explained. "Other HMOs were protective at 6 months. Increased amounts of a HMO called LNFPI in breast milk were associated with about a 1-pound lower infant weight and fat mass."
On the other hand, a similar report on "Understanding How Breastfeeding Affects Obesity" fromTime stated that another team of researchers from Okayama University in Japan had a totally different finding in the third quarter of 2013.
It concluded that among 43,300 Japanese children, those who were only breastfed at six to seven months, they were less likely to be overweight at ages seven or eight compared to kids who drank formulated milk.
Such findings have helped in many ways in reassuring breastfeeding moms and advocates, who seemed to be confused on the findings of relevant studies. To top it all, breastfeeding is still believed to strengthen health benefits for both the mother and the child, which include maintaining their weight and overall well-being.
