Making Awesome Changes: Why is Breastfeeding So Important?

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Did you know breastfeeding for A year can reduce obesity by 47% in Latino kids?

However, Latina moms are more likely to stop breastfeeding after one month and supplement with formula, thus benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, which can also help intestinal immune-system development, studies show.

That’s why, for Breastfeeding Awareness Month (August), the “Making Awesome Changes” TV series, which partners KSAT-TV and Salud America! to feature people and groups who are pushing for healthy changes, talked with health advocates like Dr. Alice Gong of the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio to urge Latina moms to start and continue to breastfeed.

“We have gotten away from having aunts and grandmas and sisters that know about breastfeeding, so if you can’t do it, you need to get help,” Gong told KSAT.”

Salud America!, a Latino childhood obesity research network funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and led by the Institute for Health Promotion Research at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, develops Salud Heroes stories to teach people the steps that go into healthy changes and to inspire more change.

KSAT-TV has featured these other Salud Heroes:

Cecil Whisenton, a Salud America! Salud Hero, helped bring healthy vending machines to schools (KSAT-TV video).

Cesar Valdillez, aSalud America! Salud Hero, helped start a community garden (KSAT-TV video).

Dante Jones, a Salud America! Salud Hero, started a youth bike club (KSAT-TV video).

Michaelie Love, a Salud America! Salud Hero, helped bring a school breakfast cart with healthy options (KSAT-TV video).

Stay tuned for more stories from Salud America! and KSAT-TV!