Melissa Vance posted:

> From what I just read they will be looking at breastfeeding in relation to
>obesity. The question in my mind is whether it will be done right. I
>remember in the women's health study with nurses, the question was merely if
>they had breastfed--not how long, how much supplements (food or formula),
>whether scheduled, etc. If they just ask did you breastfeed and don't look
>into the variables, it will be worthless. Also, it seems that they should be
>looking into BF for more than obesity.

The design of the National Children's Study will allow any number of 
studies to be done, so any researcher who wants to look further into the 
effects of breastfeeding should be able to do this.

What the National Children's Study will do is gather a huge amount of 
detailed health data on 100,000 children. Researchers can then use this 
database to answer specific questions, many of which have not yet been 
asked. So, for example, if someone in the future wanted to study the 
effects of infant feeding on onset of puberty, they could draw on the 
children's study for the necessary data.

I don't know how detailed they're going to be with the breastfeeding data 
though. I know they know about the distinction between "breastfeeding" and 
"exclusive breastfeeding," but I don't know if the distinction made it 
through the design process. (I know they know because I had conversation 
with people involved with designing the study and they certainly knew the 
difference.)

At any rate, you've inspired me to find out more. :-) I'll post any 
relevant information I find.

regards,
Julia

Julia R. Barrett
Freelance Science Writer & Editor
Mom to Sean (5) and Kira (2)
Madison, Wisconsin

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