There is no discussion that breast milk is the best food for the baby since birth, and that more time, more benefits. But the advantages are not only for the newborn, but also for the mother.
A recent study published in International Journal of Obesity reveals that Breastfeeding reduces the risk of obesity in the mother and that while the older children tend to be the overweight of women in pre-menopause, those who breastfeed their babies will be thinner decades later.
It is a relevant investigation, since they analyzed the data of 740,000 women for several decades. They observed that the participants were on average 57.5 years of age and a BMI (body mass index) of 26.2, which can be considered as overweight. In addition, most women (88%) had had at least one child and, of these, 70% had breastfed their children for an average of 7.7 months.
Among women who had breastfed, the BMI was significantly lower, 1% lower for every six months of breastfeeding. Although it may seem like a small index, it has a major impact on health, reducing the risk of obesity-related diseases such as diabetes, some types of cancer and cardiovascular disease.
According to the authors, transferred to the population of the United Kingdom could mean 10,000 premature deaths less every decade.
There is a study that also demonstrates other benefits of breastfeeding for the mother, such as reducing the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, as well as diabetes, and helping to lose weight gained during pregnancy in the months after delivery.
Therefore, breastfeeding, in addition to being the best option for the baby, proves to be also beneficial to the mother's health, in the short and long term.
