Breastfeeding protects babies against infections and the risk of long term disease, and reduces the mother’s risk of some cancers and hip fractures. The following summary of evidence is taken from the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative, which reviews and evaluates studies relevant to breastfeeding in industrialised countries, and only includes studies adjusted for social and economic variables.
Artificially-fed babies are at greater risk of:
- gastro-intestinal infection
- respiratory infections
- necrotising enterocolitis and late onset sepsis in preterm babies
- urinary tract infections
- ear infections
- allergic disease (eczema, asthma and wheezing)
- Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- Obesity
- Childhood leukaemia
- SIDS
and breastfed babies may have better:
- neurological development
- cholesterol levels
- blood pressure
Women who breastfed are at lower risk of:
- breast cancer
- ovarian cancer
- hip fractures and reduced bone density
More information
For more information about the evidence for the benefits of breastfeeding in industrialised countries, see http://www.unicef.org.uk/BabyFriendly/News-and-Research/Research/Breastfeeding-research---An-overview/