Breast milk protein could help babies avoid obesity

A PROTEIN discovered in breast milk could help babies avoid obesity and heart disease in later life, it was revealed yesterday.

Adiponectin is secreted by fat cells and affects how the body processes sugars and lipids fatty substances in the blood.

It has been suggested that adiponectin protects against "metabolic syndrome", which affects up to a quarter of adults, and combats obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.