Prolonged lactation: Preventing obesity since infancy

Dr Vincent Prevot and Professors Markus Schwaninger and Ruben Nogueiras explain the significance of the perinatal maternal lifestyle, specifically prolonged lactation, in shielding offspring from chronic disease. In recent years, the escalating prevalence of obesity and its associated diseases has prompted numerous studies covering broad aspects of metabolism, from the genetic inheritance of disorders to the early emergence of non-genetic metabolic traits. Pregnancy and lactation are now identified as the pivotal periods for establishing these traits, which can develop from infancy into adulthood. Therefore, maternal influences are crucial in the development of pathologies arising from a combination of genetic and non-genetic factors, as well as lifestyle.