Breastfeeding 'can help tackle' childhood obesity » Health » 24dash.com

Health experts from across the South East came together today as part of National Breastfeeding Awareness Week (NBAW) to share good practice and the latest thinking on breastfeeding and how it can help tackle childhood obesity.

An Oxfordshire project "Baby Cafe Bus' was showcased at the conference as an example of good practice and helping to encourage healthy early years nutrition.

The project aims to solve some of the perceived problems of mothers' breastfeeding their babies in public by offering a cosy space for mothers to feed their babies, meet each other and have access to information and support from trained professionals if required.

The 18-seater bus, donated by Oxfordshire County Council, has been refitted and has a kitchen, wooden floor and comfortable seating.

The bus is open three days a week and welcomes women seeking advice from health visitors, midwives, breastfeeding counsellors and trained volunteers for problems with breastfeeding or dropping in to find solidarity with other mothers coping with the demands of a hungry baby.

Pam Naylor, from the South East Regional Public Health Group and the Healthy Weight lead for the South East said: "A decision to breastfeed, especially for the first six months of a baby's life, can have a huge impact on infant health and future development.

"As part of the South East Health strategy which we launched in February of this year, we committed to promoting the physical, emotional and mental health and well being of all children and young people in the South East. This includes improving progress towards reducing childhood obesity.

"There is good evidence that breastfeeding can play a vital part in reversing the rising trend in weight problems amongst young people as well as having other significant health benefits including protection from infection and diseases such as gastro-intestinal infections, ear infections, urine infections, eczema and obesity in later childhood."

Breastfeeding is a major public health issue in today's society with significant inequalities in infant feeding practices.

Age is a strong factor, with statistics showing that in the UK, 76% of women start breastfeeding, but for mothers under 20, it's just 51%.1

The Government recommends exclusive breastfeeding up to the age of six months, with continued breastfeeding alongside solid foods after six months. Breastfeeding provides health benefits for mothers too. It can reduce the risk of against ovarian cancer, breast cancer and weak bones later in life.