Date:16/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/16/stories/2008081659440600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Twin benefits of breast-feeding

Breast cancer in mother, obesity in child can be averted

Obesity identified as a definite risk factor for cancer
Cutting intake of salt, liquor and red meat suggested

HYDERABAD: It will be a double benefit if babies are breast-fed.

Not only will it protect the mother from becoming vulnerable to breast cancer, but will also help in preventing the child from becoming obese, a definite risk factor for cancer.

With a recent global study establishing obesity as a major cause of cancer, the need for breast-feeding infants has been one of its 10 important recommendations on cancer prevention.

The other recommendations include--be as lean as possible within the normal range of body weight, be physically active, limit consumption of energy-dense foods, avoid sugary drinks, eat mostly plant food, limit intake of red meat, alcoholic drinks and salt.

Preventable disease

Describing it as the largest report of its kind ever carried out in the health sector, reviewing the evidence to show the relationship between diet, physical activity and cancer, Alan A. Jackson, Director, Institute of Human Nutrition, University of Southampton School of Medicine, said it showed that cancer was a “preventable disorder.”

Study

He said the seven-year study involved scientists from all over the world, including India, who reviewed five million scientific papers and selected 700,000 which showed a strong relationship between diet and cancer.

He said cancer was a public health problem which could be prevented if people make important but small changes in the food they eat and the way they live their lives.

Prof. Jackson, one of the 21 renowned scientists who reviewed the study’s findings, told The Hindu that being fat or having fat around the waist increases the risk of certain cancers.

Risk of fat

Pointing out that being obese was common in India, he said that another study had revealed that Indian babies when born have more fat in their belly because they were small.

If they were better in size, they probably would have less fat. Referring to the recommendation, he said the global study showed that breast feeding protects the other from getting cancer and also protects the baby from becoming fat.