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Journal of Human Lactation
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Body Weight, Body Composition, and Energy Intake Changes in Breastfeeding Mothers

Rayane AbuSabha, PhD, RD

Department of Nutrition; The Pennsylvania State University, 5 Henderson Building University Park, PA 16802 USA.

Geoffrey Greene, PhD, RD

University of Rhode Island Department of Food Science and Nutrition.

Body weight, body composition, and energy intake changes are described for 13 breastfeeding mothers followed for 18-24 months after delivery. Body weight was assessed at 1-6, 9, 12, 18, 24 months postpartum and 1 month after infant weaning, and energy intake was assessed at 2-6, 9, 12, 18, 24 months postpartum and 1 month after infant weaning. Compared to prepregnancy weight, participants were an average of 4.0 ± 6.6 kg heavier 18 months postpartum (p<0.05). The mean rate of weight loss from 1 month postpartum until termination of lactation was 0.32 ± 0.27 kg/month. Eight of the 12 women gained weight after weaning their infant. Percent body fat assessed by underwater weighing declined from 34.6 ± 2.8% at 1 month postpartum to 31.4 ± 4.8% at 1 month after infant weaning (p<0.05). Further research is needed to study the factors which affect weight loss postpartum, and how weight gain after weaning can be prevented.

Key Words: beastfeeding • energy intake • weight loss postpartum • body composition

Journal of Human Lactation, Vol. 14, No. 2, 119-124 (1998)
DOI: 10.1177/089033449801400211
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