BREASTFEEDING AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, ITS IMPACT ON THE INCIDENCE OF OBESITY IN OFFSPRING IN THE FUTURE

Barbara Nowak-Misiąg; Brygida  Pinkowicz; Idalia  Myszor; Michał  Madej; Maria  Kubacka; Lucjan  Kocemba; Gabriela  Mroczka; Sylwia   Nycz-Jucha; Paulina  Łobaza; Piotr  Rachwał

doi:10.31435/ijitss.2(50).2026.5217

Authors

Barbara Nowak-Misiąg Medical Center in Łańcut Sp z o.o, Łańcut, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9466-3443
Brygida Pinkowicz Medical Center in Łańcut Sp z o.o, Łańcut, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3290-7109
Idalia Myszor University Clinical Hospital F. Chopin in Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0008-5365-7037
Michał Madej University Clinical Hospital F. Chopin in Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3411-2178
Maria Kubacka Saint Queen Jadwiga Clinical Regional Hospital No. 2 in Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0789-5201
Lucjan Kocemba University Clinical Hospital F. Chopin in Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0006-0441-9927
Gabriela Mroczka National Medical Institute of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration in Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6382-3123
Sylwia Nycz-Jucha Medical Center in Łańcut Sp z o.o, Łańcut, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0004-9042-2449
Paulina Łobaza Medical Center in Łańcut Sp z o.o, Łańcut, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3566-005X
Piotr Rachwał University Clinical Hospital F. Chopin in Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0005-1434-1433

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.2(50).2026.5217

Keywords:

Breastfeeding, Physical Activity, Exercise, Obesity, Adolescence

Abstract

Childhood obesity represents a serious and steadily increasing global health problem, and early life feeding practices, particularly during infancy, may contribute to the subsequent development of obesity. Breastfeeding is regarded as the most appropriate method of infant feeding, and a growing body of evidence indicates that breastfeeding exerts a protective effect against overweight and obesity later in life.

This article is based on a narrative review of the literature. Medical databases, including PubMed and Google Scholar, were systematically searched using the keywords breastfeeding, physical activity, exercise, obesity and adolescence. Due to heterogeneity in study designs and outcome measures, a quantitative meta-analysis was not performed.

The available evidence suggests that engagement in physical activity during pregnancy and lactation does not adversely affect milk production, milk composition, or infant growth. A considerable body of research suggests that engagement in physical activity during lactation confers substantial health benefits to both the mother and the infant and may attenuate the risk of overweight and obesity in offspring later in life.

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