Breastfeeding and cardiometabolic health
Short description
In this project, we investigate how breastfeeding duration, as well as exclusive and partial breastfeeding, affect cardiometabolic risk markers and the risk of cardiometabolic disease in the short and long term among women who have given birth, using data from several Nordic observational studies.
The development of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, overweight, and obesity is complex, and many factors influence the risk of developing these conditions. Unique to women is the impact that childbirth can have on disease risk.
Several studies have demonstrated that the number of children a woman gives birth to is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and higher body weight. These associations are supported by changes in metabolic markers during pregnancy and after childbirth. Interestingly, breastfeeding appears to reduce the risk of developing conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes in women who have given birth. However, previous studies have not provided consistent results, and further research with better exposure data is needed to investigate the effects of breastfeeding on women’s cardiometabolic health after childbirth.
In this project, we examine the factors influencing breastfeeding duration and how breastfeeding duration relates to postpartum changes in body weight, blood lipids, and long-term alterations in cardiometabolic risk markers, as well as the risk of actual cardiovascular events.