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Not sure why this is in our news now..
Jan Cornfoot
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25818342-36398,00.html
Expert says breastfeeding benefits 'greatly exaggerated'
By Fiona MacRae and Tory Shepherd
The Advertiser
July 22, 2009 12:01am
Breastfeeding information "out of date"
Benefits are "greatly exaggerated"
However it may be good for the brain
THE benefits of breastfeeding have been greatly exaggerated, a leading
paediatrician says.
Professor Michael Kramer, from Montreal's McGill University, claimed much of
the information used to persuade mothers to breastfeed was either wrong or
out of date.
He has spent more than 20 years studying the subject and believes a
significant amount of evidence behind the claims is flawed, The Advertiser
reports.
Those promoting the "breast is best" message say a mother's milk wards off a
host of ills including protecting against obesity, allergies, asthma and
diabetes.
But Professor Kramer's work has failed to show breastfeeding provides such
protection. He claims many of the supposed advantages can be explained by
differences in lifestyle.
"I don't favour overselling the evidence - we should not be conveying false
information," he said.
However, studies showing breast milk wards off ear infections and stomach
bugs stand up to scrutiny. Professor Kramer also believes it may be good for
the developing brain, leading to a slight increase in IQ.
He said the confusion was exacerbated by competition between the formula
milk industry and the breastfeeding lobby.
"The formula milk industry jumps on every piece of equivocal evidence," he
said.
"But the breastfeeding lobby have a way of ignoring the evidence. Both sides
are not being very scientific."
Australian Breastfeeding Association counsellor Lindsay Giannakos said: "I
have found breastfeeding does not protect my children from all illnesses but
I do believe had I chosen to not breastfeed they would have been at
increased risk of many health issues such as allergies ... obesity and
diabetes.
"In my opinion, breastfeeding is the normal way to feed a child, and
factories can not manufacture an equal substitute."
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