Breastfeeding is still best for babies, and mothers too. Accord¬ing to researchers from the Har¬vard School of Public Health, breastfeeding is a mother’s best option in ensuring that her baby grows up healthy and far from obesity.

Researchers believe that breastfeeding is a possible key that could spare a child from ac¬quiring diabetes that runs in the family. With more than 15,000 subjects, both sexes with ages be¬tween 9 and 14, the study revealed that a breastfed infant has a less¬er chance of becoming overweight and obese when he gets older evenif his mother is overweight and/or diabetic.

According to chief researcher Dr. Elizabeth Mayer-Davis, breastfed babies are ‘taught’ natural eating habits early on. In contrast to formula feeding which is based on a schedule, breastfeeding allows mothers to conveniently attend to infants’ clamor for food. With breastfeeding, babies consume only the amount they need for the moment.

Dr. Davis was quoted as saying that the “substantial benefit to breastfeeding for all children is regardless of their mother’s

weight or health status.” Published in the latest issue of Diabetes Care journal, the study debunked previous researches which linked diabetic mothers to obesity and ‘poor glucose tolerance’ among children.