National Obesity Awareness Week 2015, taking place between 12th and 18th January, is intended to raise awareness of obesity and the positive steps the public can take to either prevent or address obesity.
The organisers have called for the public to join in with a ‘National New Year’s Resolution’ to help tackle obesity.
Our resolution for 2015 (as it is every year!) is to provide the best possible support for breastfeeding families and help breastfeeding be recognised as the normal way to feed babies. Many studies have proved that breastfeeding helps to prevent obesity in childhood as well as in mothers.
Dieting while breastfeeding
If you’re a mum exclusively breastfeeding a baby, you will be burning between 200 and 500 extra calories per day.
For lots more information on dieting while breastfeeding, have a look at the information on this page.
There’s no need to restrict your diet, or eat specific foods while breastfeeding, however a healthy, balanced diet is always a good idea (at any time!). For more information and ideas for healthy snacks and meals, have a look at the First Steps Nutrition guide for new mums.
You can also find more information and tips as part of the Scottish Government’s ‘Eat Better, Feel Better’.
Breastfeeding provides the healthiest start to life for your baby and decreases the risk of obesity later on for them, as well as helping you burn extra calories.
Other ways to get involved
If you’re not a breastfeeding mum, you can still help babies get a healthy start in life by supporting those that are breastfeeding within your circle of family and friends, out in public or in the workplace. For those that are formula feeding there is information in this leaflet on how often and how much to feed your baby. It also explains how to identify the signs that your baby is hungry and gives information on which type of formula to choose.
If you’d like to discuss any of these issues with a trained Breastfeeding Supporter, visit one of our drop in groups or call the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 0300 100 0212.