Babies who are exclusively breastfed for six months – not given anything except mother’s milk – have stronger immunity, fewer infections, higher intelligence, better nutritional status and protection against overweight and diabetes in later life. Of these, 180,000 child deaths occur in India. Just 54.9% of babies are exclusively breastfed for six months in India, show data from the National Family Health Survey 4. Globally, only about 40% of children are breastfed exclusively for six months, with breastfeeding rates being above 60% in just 23 countries, according to the scorecard. Breastfed babies are less likely to be overweight and obese in later life and have a lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and other metabolic disorders.

Source: Hindustan Times August 05, 2017 13:52 UTC