The Impact of Human Milk Feeding on Long-Term Risk of Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease

In summary, there is strong evidence supporting the benefits of breastfeeding and human milk consumption during infancy for long-term cardiovascular health. These benefits may be related to the slower early growth of infants receiving human milk or lower-protein formulas versus those fed standard formulas. Preventative strategies, such as promoting breastfeeding, reducing the protein content of formula, avoiding overnutrition, and encouraging responsive bottle feeding (i.e., recognizing feeding cues), may help to slow the rate of weight gain in infancy and reduce the long-term burden of cardiovascular disease