A cross-sectional study in Bavaria found that children who were never breastfed had a higher risk of obesity (4.5%) and being overweight (defined as BMI above the 90th centile) compared to those who were breastfed (2.8% and 2.3%, respectively). The longer the duration of exclusive breastfeeding, the lower the risk of obesity and being overweight. For example, children breastfed for more than 12 months had an obesity prevalence of 0.8%. The protective effect of breastfeeding was not due to social class or lifestyle differences. After adjusting for confounding factors, breastfeeding remained a significant protective factor against obesity (odds ratio 0.75, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.98) and being overweight (0.79, 0.68 to 0.93). The study suggests that promoting prolonged breastfeeding may help reduce childhood obesity, which could lead to a decrease in cardiovascular diseases and other obesity-related conditions in adults. The protective effect of breastfeeding is likely due to the composition of breast milk rather than lifestyle factors. The study also found that higher parental education, premature birth, and low birth weight were inversely associated with obesity, while maternal smoking during pregnancy and having their own bedroom were positively correlated. The study highlights the importance of breastfeeding in preventing childhood obesity and its long-term health consequences.A cross-sectional study in Bavaria found that children who were never breastfed had a higher risk of obesity (4.5%) and being overweight (defined as BMI above the 90th centile) compared to those who were breastfed (2.8% and 2.3%, respectively). The longer the duration of exclusive breastfeeding, the lower the risk of obesity and being overweight. For example, children breastfed for more than 12 months had an obesity prevalence of 0.8%. The protective effect of breastfeeding was not due to social class or lifestyle differences. After adjusting for confounding factors, breastfeeding remained a significant protective factor against obesity (odds ratio 0.75, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.98) and being overweight (0.79, 0.68 to 0.93). The study suggests that promoting prolonged breastfeeding may help reduce childhood obesity, which could lead to a decrease in cardiovascular diseases and other obesity-related conditions in adults. The protective effect of breastfeeding is likely due to the composition of breast milk rather than lifestyle factors. The study also found that higher parental education, premature birth, and low birth weight were inversely associated with obesity, while maternal smoking during pregnancy and having their own bedroom were positively correlated. The study highlights the importance of breastfeeding in preventing childhood obesity and its long-term health consequences.