Breastfeeding, gross motor development and obesity, is there any causal association?

Abstract

Childhood obesity is the main nutritional and public health problem in Chile. The main causes are the increase in energy dense foods and the decline of physical activity. Current interventions to prevent obesity at infancy are focused mainly in improving quality and quantity of dietary intake, without taking into account physical activity, which is expressed under two years of age, mainly by motor development. Some studies have proven that motor development at early age may influence the ability to perform physical activity. Thus, infants scoring a lower motor development may have a greater risk of becoming obese. It is not known if childhood obesity causes lower motor development (given that children may have greater difficulty to move), or on the contrary, it is the lower ability to move, which increases the obesity risk. The objective of this manuscript is to analyze the evidence regards the relationship between breastfeeding, motor development and obesity in the childhood.To be able to understand this association and causal mecanisms, it is important to develop strategys focused in early infancy to promote breastfeeding, healthy eating and early stimulation, starting in pediatric office.