Breastfeeding could prevent 800,000 child deaths, Lancet says

The Guardian A recent Lancet study showes that children who are breastfed for longer have higher IQs, lower death rates and less risk of infection than those who are breastfed for shorter periods or not at all, the research found. Breastfeeding may also protect against diabetes and obesity later in life. Despite these proven benefits, however, only 37% of children aged six months and under in lower- and middle-income countries are exclusively breastfed. This failure of breastfeeding should not be seen solely as the responsibility of the woman, but also in the lack of support for mothers and aggressive formula milk industry, research finds. (Photo Unicef Ethiopia / flickr)

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