Risk Of Obesity May Be Affected By Breast Milk

It has long been believed that breastfeeding reduces the incidence of obesity in children. While, on the whole this is true, recent research has shown that mothers who have a high level of a protein, adiponectin, secreted by lipids in their milk, may be increasing the risk of obesity in their children.

German researchers found a connection between being overweight by the age of 2 and the amount of adiponectin in the mother's milk. It is speculated that infants may not be able to absorb adiponectin. Interestingly, high levels of the protein in adults reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes, so it is "counterintuitive" that high levels contribute to overweight in children. Dr. Maria Weyermann, from the Gernman Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg, Germany, states, "...protective effect[s] of breastfeeding against childhood obesity might depend, at least in part, on low levels of breast milk adiponectin." Doctors remain that, despite this research, mothers still follow the American Academy of Pediatrics breastfeeding recommendations.