Obesity on the rise, What can be done to prevent it? Options

[Sumiaki]

I haven't seen a post on this subject so i decided to post it. What do you believe is the number one reason why obesity and/or child obesity are rising? What do you think this country can do to prevent increasing obesity? Do you believe with the advancement of technology to make things "easier" will have a direct effect on our obesity count?

[Sumiaki]

No breast milk is healthy, if it was hazardous to a babies health it would be already pointed out. My breasts do not make people fat.

Milk is actually healthy if you drink it. Recent studies prove it, doesn't anyone watch Discovery Health?!

I didn't say breast milk wasnt healthy. I said it IS healthier than the formula that babies drink from. Breast fed babies have a lower chance of becoming obese later on in life. I'll find the article...

Breastfeeding lowers child obesity

Written by BUPA's medical team - 7 June 2002

Breastfed babies could have a 30 per cent reduced risk of becoming obese children compared with children who are bottlefed, according to a new report from the Child Health Information Team, University of Glasgow.

The research published in this week's The Lancet shows a distinct trend towards obesity by bottlefed babies compared to those who were breastfed.

The report assessed the body mass index BMI of 32,000 youngsters between 39 and 42 months old, and then established whether they had been breastfed in early infancy (6-8 weeks of age).

Earlier independent studies indicate that breastfeeding can 'programme' children against becoming obese and show bottlefed children have far higher blood concentrations of insulin - the chemical responsible for laying down fat cells.

Dr John Reilly from the University of Glasgow's Department of Human Nutrition said: "Our findings suggest that breastfeeding is associated with a modest reduction in childhood obesity risk. They also suggest that the reduction in risk is present in early childhood. Breastfeeding is therefore potentially useful for population-based strategies aimed at obesity prevention, particularly with the other benefits that breastfeeding provides."

Breast milk contains the right balance of nutrients that a baby needs, such as protein, carbohydrates and fat, as well as antibodies that help fight off illness and infection.

According to previous studies, the other benefits of breastfeeding include:

protection against infections and illnesses such as gastroenteritis, chest, ear and urinary tract infections.
reduced blood pressure, risk of diabetes, asthma and eczema improved cognitive function (ie intelligence)

Breastfeeding is on the increase in the UK, a fact that The National Childbirth Trust (NCT) welcomes.

"This is a reasonably good study with a positive association and I'm not surprised to see scientists proving what biologists have always known," says Belinda Phipps, NCT Chief Executive. "It is obvious that breast milk is best suited to babies in a way that cow's milk is not. It takes up where the placenta leaves off in terms of fulfilling a baby's nutritional needs.

"Research like this is supportive of our cause and we would love to see more and more women opt to breastfeed. However, many don't due to social pressure and feel very self-conscious breast feeding in public," she added.

I couldn't find the actual newpaper article cuz it was like 4 months ago, but i found an article online.