Obesity is a huge health hazard. It is a problem that over the past few decades has acquired epidemic proportions. And breastfeeding can prevent obesity.
Obesity is not a health problem that comes alone. It brings with it several other diseases that compromise the quality of life of the person suffering from obesity and also reduces his/her lifespan.
Obesity causes heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, certain cancers, Gallbladder disease, gall stones, osteoarthritis, gout and breathing problems such as sleep apnea.
In addition – it lowers the self-esteem of the person suffering from obesity and keeps him/her from enjoying and participating in life to the fullest.
In the past few decades – larger and larger sections of the world population have become victims of this lifestyle epidemic.
One of the reasons for obesity in these large sections of the population – is the inability of these individuals to control how much they eat. Obese persons are challenged by their inability to gauge when they are hungry, their inability to estimate how hungry they are and their inability to stop eating when full.
The ability to give the body exactly what it needs in the correct quality and quantity – is something that every human being is born with. However these abilities endowed by nature are wiped out by prevailing social circumstances and childhood social conditioning.
The elimination of these natural instincts begin right from the time parents start feeding their newborns.
Wiping out natural instincts is dangerous and it is important to make every effort to preserve these instincts to prevent obesity.
Good eating habits must be inculcated early and the process must start with breastfeeding.
How does breastfeeding prevent obesity?
Breastfed babies learn to feed when they are hungry and stop when they are full
From day 1 – they learn healthy eating habits. They learn to read signals from their body and learn not to overeat.
Learning to eat right and eat just enough is the first step towards nourishing the body appropriately and ensuring that your child does not become obese.
The time you spend breastfeeding is your golden chance to inculcate healthy habits in your baby for a lifetime of good health.
Make sure you breastfeed.
Also read This is why breast milk is better than formula milk and Will My Baby Really Benefit From Breastfeeding
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