Breastfed babies ‘have lower risk of obesity’

THE debate over whether breastfeeding protects children against obesity in later life intensified yesterday as child health experts said that the latest research had established a strong link.

Unicef UK’s Baby Friendly conference in Bournemouth will hear researchers say babies who are breastfed are at a lower risk of becoming obese, as well as being protected against high blood pressure and cholesterol.

But research published in the British Medical Journal last month, involving more than 5,000 children, found there was little evidence breast-feeding protected youngsters against becoming overweight.