Q: I’m hearing a lot about how breastfeeding can help prevent obesity, and how extended bottle feeding can help contribute to it. Is this true? If so, why? How long do moms need to breastfeed to give babies the maximum benefits? What is the biggest “don’t” when it comes to breastfeeding?

Christine Wood, M.D., answers …

Many studies support the idea that breastfeeding has a small protective effect on later obesity. Breastfeeding is recommended for obesity prevention by the American Academy of Pediatrics. How breastfeeding protects is unclear, but an interesting study points to the bottle itself as a possible factor. Researchers found that infants who were bottle-fed during their first six months – whether formula or pumped breast milk – showed less appetite “self-regulation” later in infancy, which is a risk for obesity. When it comes to feeding in a bottle, parents have the notion that the baby needs to finish the bottle and this may encourage babies not to develop their own regulation of when they are full. When breastfeeding, a mother does not have a set amount that she sees that her baby is taking and so the baby’s cues for being full are more readily used to determine if a baby is finished feeding.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for at least the first year of life to receive all the health benefits of breastfeeding. Moms can become discouraged early on if they are having any trouble breastfeeding, such as sore nipples, engorgement, poor latching, or low weight gain in the baby. My advice is don’t give up if you are having nursing problems until you have been assessed by a certified lactation consultant (their title is IBCLC, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant), because many problems can be resolved with the help of a qualified person.

Christine Wood, M.D., (www.kidseatgreat.com) is a pediatrician, Certified Lactation Educator (CLE), and spokesperson for USANA Health Sciences.