Article Title
Document Type
Research
Abstract
The focus of this paper is to provide a review of current research regarding the possible protective effect of breast feeding against childhood obesity. This relationship is of importance as the United States is not immune to the obesity epidemic in children (Institute of Medicine, 2008). Over the past 30 years, the childhood obesity rate defined as at or greater than the 95th percentile for age has tripled in children aged 2-5 years old and adolescents aged 12-19 years old, and doubled in children aged 6-11 years old. In 2000, the prevalence of obesity was 10% for age 2-5 year olds, and 15% for 6-11 and 12-19 year olds. The negative impacts of obesity and overweight on health and wellness during childhood are recognized to have negative health consequences that include diabetes mellitus, precocious puberty, fertility problems, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, 118 International Journal of Global Health and Health Disparities sleep apnea, and depression (UpToDate, 2008). It is the topic of this paper to review literature published since 1999 on the epidemiologic impact of breast feeding on childhood overweight and obesity in children one to fourteen years old.
Publication Date
2009
Journal Title
International Journal of Global Health and Health Disparities
Volume
6
Issue
1
First Page
118
Last Page
131
Copyright
©2009 International Journal of Global Health and Health Disparities
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Kennedy, Erin J.
(2009)
"Breast Feeding and Obesity Prevention in Children,"
International Journal of Global Health and Health Disparities, 6(1), 118-131.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/ijghhd/vol6/iss1/14