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Prevention

It is important to establish healthy eating patterns early through breast feeding. According to the Breast feeding and obesity: cross sectional study (von Kries & Koletzko et al. 1999)

  • Obesity in non-breast fed children - 4.5%
  • Obesity in breast fed children - 2.5%

Overall breast feeding offers both short term (Wilson, 1998) and long term health benefits such as reducing heart disease risk factors. (Singhal et al., 2004).

Comparative Breasting Feeding Statistics

  • England 78% initiate BF (22% @ 6mths)
  • Norway 99%
  • Denmark 98%
  • Republic of Ireland 53%
  • Northern Ireland 42.4% (average rate, 2008)

New Infant Growth Charts

A new set of growth charts for newborn babies and children up to four years old were released by the Department of Health in May 2009. The new charts are based on the growth of breastfed babies and replace current measures which are based on babies fed with formula milk. 

They were developed by the World Health Organization and produced for the UK by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. Their key objectives would be to:

  • Establish growth based on breastfeeding as the norm.
  • Identification of early signs of overweight / obesity and provision of early support.
  • Recommend breastfeeding for first 6 months.
  • Recommend breast milk or a substitute beyond 6 months plus appropriate solids.

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