The United Kingdom's rising rates of childhood obesity are being exacerbated by a decline in breastfeeding, according to Dr. Penny Dash, the chair of NHS England. She stated that a greater emphasis on promoting breastfeeding could help to significantly reduce the nation's "staggering and frightening" levels of childhood obesity.
Breastfeeding offers proven health benefits over formula milk and has been shown to reduce the risk of childhood obesity by as much as 25 to 26 percent, Dr. Dash said. However, she criticized England's performance in sustained breastfeeding uptake when compared to other countries, suggesting the NHS has "given up" on encouraging mothers to continue breastfeeding.
"We perform exceptionally badly globally in terms of our rates of breastfeeding," Dr. Dash remarked at an event hosted by the King's Fund think-tank in London. "So it's an intervention which reduces obesity by 25 to 26 percent and we don't advocate it. To me, that's like saying we're not going to bother vaccinating people."
Data from the Infant Feeding Survey indicates that while 86 percent of mothers in England initiate breastfeeding, only 56 percent are exclusively breastfeeding after one week, and this figure drops to 26 percent at six months. This contrasts with countries like Sri Lanka and Burundi, which maintain breastfeeding rates above 80 percent.
The prevalence of childhood obesity is significant in England. Over 10.5 percent of children are obese and an additional 13 percent are overweight by the time they start primary school at ages four or five. By the time they leave at ages ten or 11, these figures rise to 22.2 percent obese and 14 percent overweight.
The most common reasons cited by mothers for stopping breastfeeding include latching difficulties, concerns about milk production, and painful breasts and nipples. Other factors include fatigue, the need to return to work or education, and the perception that the baby is not getting enough milk. Notably, 72 percent of mothers who stopped breastfeeding reported wishing they could have continued for longer, with many believing additional support from hospital or community midwifery teams could have made a difference.
Dr. Dash also highlighted a broader decline in public health over the past decade, emphasizing that childhood obesity is a major challenge. She pointed out that while the NHS website offers advice on breastfeeding and formula feeding, framing it as a personal choice with no pressure, the current approach may not be sufficiently encouraging sustained breastfeeding.
Dr. Dash stated that improving public health is a responsibility that extends beyond the NHS to local authorities and other government bodies. She noted that some politicians are hesitant to implement public health measures for fear of appearing to promote a "nanny state." She stressed the importance of clinicians' voices in influencing healthier lifestyles, drawing a parallel to past public health campaigns like those against smoking. A comprehensive, society-wide approach is necessary, she urged, and she hopes the government will be "brave enough" to enact such measures.
Catherine Hine, chief executive of The Breastfeeding Network, expressed support for Dr. Dash's call to action, stating it is important to support mothers who wish to breastfeed. She reiterated that evidence shows a significant number of mothers stop breastfeeding earlier than intended due to challenges that could be overcome with timely support.
In a separate point, Dr. Dash also called for improved "financial discipline" within the NHS, advocating for detailed ledgers to track taxpayer spending, stating, "It's not acceptable that we don't know where the money goes."