e-Library of Evidence for Nutrition Actions (eLENA)

Exclusive breastfeeding to reduce the risk of childhood overweight and obesity

Overweight and obese children are at higher risk of developing serious health problems including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma and other respiratory problems, sleep disorders and liver disease. They may also suffer from psychological effects, such as low self-esteem, depression and social isolation. Childhood obesity also increases the risk of obesity, noncommunicable diseases, premature death and disability in adulthood.

In addition to providing all the nutrients an infant needs in the first six months of life and protecting against common childhood diseases (i.e. diarrhoea and pneumonia), mounting evidence indicates that breastfeeding may have longer-term benefits such as reducing the risk of overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence. Limited evidence also suggests a link between breastfeeding and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, lower blood pressure and higher scores on intelligence tests.

WHO recommendations

To achieve optimal growth, development and health, infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life.

Thereafter, to meet their evolving nutritional requirements, infants should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods, while continuing to breastfeed for up to two years or beyond.

WHO documents

WHO documents

GRC-approved guidelines
Other guidance documents
Evidence

Evidence

Related Cochrane reviews
Other related systematic reviews
Clinical trials

Last update:

15 June 2017 11:06 CEST

Category 1 intervention

Guidelines have been recently approved by the WHO Guidelines Review Committee

Biological, behavioural and contextual rationale

Implementation

Essential Nutrition Actions

This intervention is supported by Essential Nutrition Actions targeting the first 1000 days of life.

Global targets

Implementation of this intervention may contribute to the achievement of the following targets:

Global nutrition targets

Target 1: 40% reduction in the number of children under-5 who are stunted

Target 4: No increase in childhood overweight


Target 5: Increase the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in first 6 months up to at least 50%

Global NCD targets

Target 7: Halt the rise in diabetes and obesity

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