HealthCentral.com - News - Unknown 0/0/0 Why Overweight Women Face Breast-feeding Problems

They don't produce enough prolactin, a key hormone, new research says.

By Colette Bouchez
HealthScoutNews Reporter

"SATURDAY, May 3 (HealthScoutNews) -- There's no question that breast-feeding has important health benefits for both women and their babies.

Now a new study offers important hope for at least one group of women who traditionally have met with lactation failure.

The research focused on overweight women, many of whom can have difficulty making enough milk for successful breast-feeding. Researchers say the study, presented May 3 at the Pediatric Academic Societies' annual meeting in Seattle, is the first to document a physical problem as a potential cause.

"The most important finding is that we have discovered a biological reason -- as opposed to a psychological or sociological reason -- for lactation failure," says study author Dr. Chris Kjolhede..."