Jakarta (ANTARA) – Exclusive breastfeeding up to the age of 24 months can reduce the risk of obesity and diabetes in children, an official from the Health Ministry said.”Breast milk contains antibodies that can help fight infections and prevent non-communicable diseases in adulthood. The risk of obesity or diseases caused by obesity such as diabetes can decrease if the baby consumes breast milk,” director general of public health at the ministry, Maria Endang Sumiwi, said in Jakarta on Tuesday. If a baby is not breastfed, it will be at increased risk of infection and nutritional problems in the future, she added. “Breast milk has the most complete nutrition for babies. Babies without breast milk are at risk of developing allergies and lactose intolerance,” Sumiwi said. She also outlined several principles of infant and child feeding, especially in the first 1,000 days of life (024 months), with the first principle being the early initiation of breastfeeding because that determines the success of breastfeeding in the future. “When a baby is born, the baby must be placed directly on the mother’s chest to look for the nipple and immediately develop a good sucking reflex. So, it needs to be placed on the mother’s chest for at least an hour. This first experience contributes to the success of exclusive breastfeeding,” she informed.
Source: Antara News Agency