Research conducted in Poland has proven that obesity among preschool children depends on the duration of breastfeeding. The longer the time of breastfeeding, the less prone to gaining weight the child had in later years.
Child obesityalready begins in utero. In infants receiving breast milk for 6 months or longer, 12.6% were obese. In those who are breastfed for a shorter time (up to 5 months) - 14.6 percent. This is another confirmation of the thesis that the he alth condition of an adult is greatly influenced byfetal lifeandinfancy .
Adult metabolism is shaped during pregnancy and infancy
It is in infancy that the metabolism, i.e. the rate of intracellular changes, is shaped. Today we know that thanks to proper nutrition of a pregnant woman, it is possible to program a child's metabolism so that it works pro-he alth for the rest of its life. Specialists call this the body's nutritional programming. It is of great importance not only in the fight against obesity, but also in the prevention of civilization diseases - including tooth decay, anemia, diabetes, food allergies, osteoporosis, posture defects, and even cancer.
Genes don't justify childhood obesity
The genetic causes of obesity have been discussed since the discovery of genes that determine individual sensitivity to food (eg ob, db, agouti genes). It is known that if both parents are obese, it can be assumed that two of their three children will also be obese. But researchers also emphasize that inheriting genes from ancestors that promote fat storage does not amount to excessive weight gain. Although genes predispose to obesity, being aware of the family history of this disease, it can be prevented by proper nutrition and physical activity. However, the observations show that conscious prevention of overweight in such cases is rare - usually we consider family inclination to be a sufficient justification and we do nothing.
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