Abstract
The relationship between breast-feeding and childhood obesity is of great interest.. Since 2000, sixteen studies have been published with conflicting data regarding the potential protective effect of breast-feeding on childhood obesity. A narrative review of Dewey in 2003 suggested a protective effect of breast-feeding, but an editorial in the British Medical Journal later that year cited two more recent studies without such an effect and stated there was inconclusive evidence A recent meta-analysis, however, has suggested a small, but significant, protective effect of breast-feeding. This paper summarises this meta-analysis and discusses the strengths and limitations of the meta-analysis approach.
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Arenz, S., von Kries, R. (2005). Protective Effect of Breastfeeding Against Obesity in Childhood. In: Koletzko, B., Dodds, P., Akerblom, H., Ashwell, M. (eds) Early Nutrition and its Later Consequences: New Opportunities. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 569. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-3535-7_7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-3535-7_7
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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