For those at risk of becoming obese, being exclusively breastfed as an infant can help ward off weight gain later in life, a study in PLOS Genetics has found.
Researchers investigated whether the BMI-reducing effects of breastmilk can counteract the effects of genetic variations that increase the odds a person will become obese. They looked at genetic data and the BMI of more than 5000 children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.
In 18-year-old boys whose genes put them in the high-risk category for obesity, exclusive breastfeeding until five months reduced their BMI by 1.14 kg/m2. In girls, the BMI reduction was 1.53 kg/m2.
Breastfeeding exclusively until three months, or a mix of breastmilk and formula, did not lead to the same weight reduction in high-risk individuals.
Co-author Dr Laurent Briollais said while genes influenced our risk of obesity, the study showed this was not irreversible.
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