Korean J Obes.  2014 Sep;23(3):179-186. 10.7570/kjo.2014.23.3.179.

Postpartum Weight Change in Lactating Women by Breast-feeding Duration

• Yon M
• Lee HS
• Kim D
• Lee J
• Nam J
• Moon GI
• Hong J
• Lee Y
• Oh D
• Kim CI

• KMID: 2271128
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7570/kjo.2014.23.3.179

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Breast-feeding is known to help balanced growth and healthy development of infants as well as positively affect mother's health by restoring pre-gestational weight, among other numerous benefits.
METHODS
Food intake and anthropometry data of breast-feeding women who participated in the Special Food Intake Survey for Vulnerable Populations from 2011 through 2013 were used. Out of 1,044 women nursing infants younger than 12 months, 138 obese women (body mass index > or =25.0 based on pre-gestational weight & height) were excluded and data from 906 women with normal body mass index were used for the analysis. Feeding mode, frequency & duration of breast-feeding, height & weight (pre-gestational weight and current weight at the time of survey), and energy intake were analyzed to look into the relationship between change in body weight and progression of breast-feeding.
RESULTS
Mean difference between pre-gestational and current body weight of nursing women decreased as breast-feeding progressed (from 6.6+/-4.2 kg at 0 months to 1.6+/-2.5 kg at 11 months) with a negative correlation (r=-0.2363, P<0.0001) where the slope of the regression line was -0.4038 (P<0.0001).
CONCLUSION
Breast-feeding may be expected to reduce approximately 0.4 kg of weight per month in nursing mother without any intentional weight control.

Keyword

Nursing women; Breast-feeding; Pre-gestational weight; Weight loss

MeSH Terms

Anthropometry
Body Mass Index
Body Weight
Eating
Energy Intake
Female
Humans
Infant
Mothers
Nursing
Postpartum Period*
Vulnerable Populations
Weight Loss