What are some advantages of breastfeeding?

• A. Lower rates of obesity, fewer illnesses in infancy, lower rates of depression in adolescents.
• B. Higher rates of obesity.
• C. Increased risk of infections.
• D. No impact on mental health.

Answer: (A)

Breastfeeding provides immune support and developmental benefits that can affect health across the early years and into adolescence. Breast milk delivers antibodies and immune factors that help protect infants from common illnesses, reduce infections in the first year, and support a healthy gut microbiome. These immediate protections contribute to fewer illnesses in infancy. Beyond infancy, breastfeeding is associated with healthier growth patterns and a lower risk of becoming overweight later in childhood and adolescence. Additionally, the close bonding during breastfeeding and the nutritional and developmental nutrients it provides can support emotional and neurodevelopmental regulation, which is linked in some studies to a lower risk of depression in adolescence. So this option reflects several well-supported advantages. The other statements describe outcomes that aren’t supported by the overall evidence—higher obesity, more infections, or no mental health impact—so they don’t fit with the observed benefits of breastfeeding.