The study by Dr Amy Brown from the University’s College of Human and Health Sciences was set up to examine the link between maternal eating behaviour and infant milk feeding. Published in the journal Appetite, Dr Brown surveyed 756 mothers with infants aged between 6 and 12 months and found that mothers who were high in restraint (restricting intake or type of food) and/or low in external eating (eating in response to the sight or smell of food) were more likely to:

•   Use formula milk from birth
• Breastfeed for a shorter period and introduce formula earlier
• Feed their baby following a routine rather than on demand

Dr Brown who is also Programme Director for the MSc in Child Public Health said: “The findings indicate that mothers own thoughts about their body image and diet may be affecting decision to breastfeed. Mothers who were concerned with limiting their intake of food were less likely to choose to breastfeed suggesting that they may believe that breastfeeding is incompatible with their preferred body image or diet. However research demonstrates that mothers following a healthy diet and weight loss programme can continue to breastfeed whilst losing weight, with further research showing breastfeeding can help mothers lose baby weight more quickly and is not more likely to affect breast appearance than formula feeding. It is important that mothers are aware of this so that they can make an informed choice about how to feed their baby.”

Dr. Brown added: “The finding that mothers who themselves are restrictive in their eating are more likely to feed their baby to a routine is also interesting. For older children, mothers who are restrictive in their eating are more likely to highly monitor their child’s intake of food. Possibly the same factors are playing out here; mothers who are restrictive want to monitor their baby’s intake of milk and formula feeding might appear more compatible with that. However, taking a baby-led approach to feeding is important as not only does it increase milk supply for breastfeeding but it may be healthier for later weight and appetite control as the baby is allowed to control its own intake of milk.

“We know that breastfeeding is important for the health of both babies and mothers but many mothers tell us that they find it difficult or need more support. Understanding the multitude of factors that affect breastfeeding duration such as body image and eating behaviour is important for those working to support new mothers during this time.”

The research is now published in Appetite http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195666313005096