Atenção à alimentação no primeiro ano de vida: uma intervenção precoce na prevenção da obesidade infantil

Abstract

Obesity is a complex chronic disease, with multifactorial etiology and great magnitude in different populations of the world, including Brazil and is therefore an important public health problem. Studies show that obesity is affecting younger ages increasingly. It is estimated currently that 20% of Brazilian children are obese. This study aimed to examine the role of infant feeding as an effective prevention of the development of childhood obesity. The study is a review of the literature by the search from the databases of BIREME (LILACS, MEDLINE, SCIELO) and Google Scholar, considering the period from 1998 to 2009, in addition to specific textbooks of the area that were also used. Studies have shown as an the hypothesis, that obesity early in life of human beings can be "a condition set" or originated from the "metabolic imprinting", and that breast milk, with its unique composition, could exert a protective effect in such case. Breast milk also ensures a immune protection and perfect formation of intestinal barrier in infants. The early weaning associated with the inappropriate introduction of complementary feeding contributes to the development of obesity by both the excess and lack of nutrients offered. Thus, exclusive breastfeeding up to six months and introduction of appropriate complementary feeding are practices to be properly monitored and guided by professional nutritionists, as a measure of prevention of childhood obesity.