BREASTFEEDING IN THE PREVENTION OF CHILD OBESITY

Introduction and Objectives: The childhood obesity is a chronic disease that affects around 10% Brazilian children and is associated with several comorbidities. Breastfeeding, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), has been showing to be a tool against the progression of this scenario, especially when the Family Health Team (FHT) acts encouraging it. The work aims to relate breastfeeding to the genesis of childhood obesity and other diseases, and point out the role of the FHT as a stimulating agent of this act among mothers. Method: literature reserch (SciELO and PubMed). Results and conclusions: Breastfeeding, being usually the first postnatal food contact, is essential for the formation of "metabolic imprinting". Bioactive factors in breast milk are important in adipogenesis and in the regulation of satiety infant. Newborns that are not breastfed effectively have a deficit in the intake of these factors which causes the increased formation of adipose tissue, decrease satiety and early induction of artificial milk diet. Nutritional changes in the infant’s diet generates a "metabolic imprinting" that can trigger childhood obesity and comorbidities such as type II diabetes, heart failure and liver disease. Thus, primary care, through health education, has an essential role in guiding mothers about the importance of breastfeeding. Failure to perform this act could result in homeostatic changes and greater chances of children developing the diseases mentioned.