Breastfeeding reduces Diabetes risk
Appropriate Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices is a key area to improve better child survival, growth and development. The first two years of a child's life are critically important, as optimal nutrition during this period will lead to reduced morbidity and mortality, which also reduces the risk of chronic diseases.
Breast milk is the right choice for children. The proper IYCF practices comprises given only breast milk to children for first six months and then continued breastfeeding along with other family foods which is good for better child survival.
The children mostly like to take packaged food with added artificial color, flavor and preservatives. Parent's positive attitudes towards this food get to start their baby before they reach their first birthday or they start to walk or talk. This increases fondness for treats high in fat, sugar and salt. The consequence of this changed food behaviour enhance the risk of child's obesity, overweight and chronic diseases in later life.
Very recent evidence shows that prevalence of type 1 and 2 diabetes amongst children in both the developed and developing world during the past 2 decades has increased and becomes a serious public health challenge.
Most interestingly, evidence shows that exclusive breastfeeding up to six months and continued breastfeeding for two months helps to prevent Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes in children in later life. Study shows that exclusive breastfeeding for first three months reduces risk of developing diabetes up to a quarter compared to non breastfeed babies.
Moreover, children given cow's milk-based formula in their first three months have increased chance of developing Type 1 diabetes. Bottle feeding/ junk food increase the chance of obesity which is also a risk factor for developing diabetes. The relation between breastfeeding and long term obesity risk has been extensively studied, and breastfeeding is now promoted as an important prevention strategy with considerable public health benefits.
The macronutrient composition of breast milk and bioactive substances not present in formula may influence metabolic programming and regulation of body fatness and growth rate. Higher insulin levels and lower leptin levels have been reported in formula fed infants compared with that of breastfeed babies. The effect of breastfeeding on infant growth may be an important determinant of early life programming for future obesity and chronic diseases, especially for the offspring of diabetic pregnancies.
Efforts should be extended to aware mothers, especially in urban areas with the importance of exclusive breastfeeding. Policy makers should also get attention.
The writer is a Senior Assistant Coordinator, Eminence.
E-mail: sohana@eminence-bd.org
E-mail: sohana@eminence-bd.org
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