Irish Study Finds Breastfeeding Dramatically Reduces Obesity

image via aurimas, flickr

Irish researchers recently published a study in the journal Social Science and Medicine which reveals that breastfeeding dramatically reduces the rate of obesity in adolescents. Researchers followed 8,568 babies born in Ireland between 1997 and 1998, or 1/7th of all babies born that year, and found that those children who were breastfed for 13-25 weeks were 38% less obese than their counterparts when they reached nine years of age. The study also found that nine year olds who were breastfed for 26 weeks or more were 51% less obese. This research follows on the heels of Michelle Obama’s controversial campaign to promote more breastfeeding among American mothers.

READ MORE >

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: adolescents, breastfeeding, eco design, green design, Health, Inhabitots, Ireland, Michelle Obama, news, parenting, science, Social Science and Medicine, sustainable design