The incidence of obesity and metabolic syndrome X are increasing towards epidemic proportions in the US and developed world. Breastfeeding provides modest protection towards development of childhood and adult obesity presumably through a perinatal metabolic programming mechanism. Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first 6 months of life, but is not currently achieved because of a number of factors including mother
Public Health Relevance
Breast-feeding is modesty protective in development of obesity, but breast milk fat is variable between individuals and is modified by diet and time of day. Determining the mechanisms regulating milk fat synthesis will provide key insight into developing dietary recommendations that improve the healthfulness of breast milk.)
