In the US, a public health campaign called "Let's Move" is being carried out for about a year, which aims to achieve a healthier generation of children with healthier habits than the previous ones. The campaign focuses, above all, on avoid childhood obesity, which could be considered as one of the biggest (but the biggest) childhood epidemics in the northern hemisphere, being especially worrying there, where 28% of children suffer from it.
Michelle Obama, which actively participates in that campaign, recently recommended to mothers to breastfeed their children, why Children fed with breast milk tend to be less obese than those who receive formula milk. So that the thing is not only in a recommendation, it has also been announced that women will be able to deduct at the Treasury the cost of breast pumps, if they get to use them, which in America can cost hundreds of dollars.
Both things have led to a rather intense public debate, in which other women in the world of politics have declared their disagreement with the measures taken and Obama's statements.
One of those who quickly declared that she was not in favor was Michele Bachmann, a Republican congresswoman from Minnesota, the mother of five children she has breastfed, who does not find it logical that the State has to pay the breast pumps of nursing mothers: "What is this, a nanny government?". To this he added that the first lady should not be so quick by exalting natural breastfeeding over artificial breastfeeding, as it could be against millions of women who cannot or do not want to breastfeed.
AdvertisingAnother who has also wanted to give his opinion on this is Sarah Palin, a Republican Party policy who came to say with irony that "No wonder he says that ... with how expensive the milk is!".
Some surveys have been carried out to know public opinion and apparently There are quite a few women Democrats who consider that on this occasion Michelle Obama "has punctured". They do not argue that breastfeeding is the best, but they see badly that the government enthroned it so that women who do not breastfeed may feel uncomfortable.
Personally I do not understand how much stir. Breast milk is better and certainly prevents childhood obesity. This is a reality, not an opinion. Obama has wanted to promote breastfeeding, as women usually complain that they receive the recommendation, but no help, reducing the cost of breast pumps through finance. It is not a great measure, but something is something and the most hilarious thing is that they criticize it for it.
Government nanny? Well I wish all governments were, because today very few governments think about their babies and very few make decisions actively to promote breastfeeding, which would help fight obesity, as he says Michelle Obama, and many infections and hospital admissions (ergo public money in health).
Regarding Sarah Palin, who ironic about the subject, just commenting on one thing: she has five children, the fifth had it in 2008 and after 3 days she was already working. Everyone who does what they want, but I do not find it congruent that comes out to criticize measures in favor of breastfeeding a woman who seems to have so little sensitivity to the needs of babies and because I do not think it is, therefore, the best example of mother to the Americans.
Finally speaking of public opinion, I do not understand that they say that "we know that breastfeeding is the best, but if the government defends it, those who do not breastfeed will be uncomfortable." They were? Is it the best or not? Because if it's the best, that the first lady says that it is advisable to breastfeed to help prevent one in three children from being obese is something normal that should not bother anyone no?
Those who have not been able to breastfeed, because they carry out other measures such as giving healthy food to their children and promoting physical exercise and, if they have another child, try to breastfeed again if they want. So they will know why it is advisable to do so.
Those who have not wanted to do so, because in their day they made a decision and point. That is why others should stop recommending something that is recommended for babies, more would be missing.
