Posted on March 8, 2008 in Latest News
Researchers from the University of Turku, Finland claim that breast-fed infants are less likely to be overweight or obese in the future. The study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, explains how the bacteria mix in the gut of babies can help in determining whether the baby will become overweight in the future or not.
Finish researchers go onto explain that babies with greater numbers of bifidobacteria in their gut and lower numbers of Staphylococcus aureus are better protected against obesity. The researchers also suggest that breast-fed babies have a high concentration of bifidobacteria in their guts thereby reducing the risk of obesity significantly.
For the very same purpose and other health benefits new mothers are advised by doctors to breast-fed their babies. Successive studies and evidence also suggest that breast-feeding can reduce the risks of childhood obesity by 22% now up from an earlier statistic of 13%.
Results of the Finland Study
The Finland study analyzed 49 children aged 7 years old, out of which 25 were obese and 24 weighed normal. At the end of 6 and 12 months it was revealed that the bifidobacteria was twice as high in normal weighing children than in obese children.
The study also revealed that the children weighing normal had a lower count of the staphylococcus aureus. Low staphylococcus bacteria researchers maintain enable lower degrees of inflammation, and that a higher concentration of staphylococcus boosts the development of obesity.
Another research revealed that the adult gut bacteria underwent changes on account of obese adults losing weight. This could be used as a ground, for researchers to tickle the gut flora prospects of fighting adult obesity.
The intestinal role in the development of childhood obesity researchers maintain still require further speculation to assert whether breast-feeding can help in preventing childhood obesity. Set apart other reasons, it remains indisputable that breast milk contains nutritional properties that can help infants fight long-term health and weight problems.
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March 8th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
great article, very informative