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  • Title: Prolonged lactation contributes to depletion of maternal energy reserves in Filipino women.
    Author: Adair LS, Popkin BM.
    Journal: J Nutr; 1992 Aug; 122(8):1643-55. PubMed ID: 1640258.
    Abstract:
    This paper identifies determinants of women's postpartum weight and weight change in a large group of Filipino women followed for 24 mo. Longitudinal, multivariate models focused on the effects of lactation, while controlling for energy intake, energy expenditure, reproductive history and seasonality. Lactation was found to have a significant negative effect on weight of urban women. The negative effects of lactation increased with the intensity and duration of breast-feeding. Among rural women negative effects of lactation on weight were observed only after 10-14 mo. Models of net postpartum weight change (from 2 to 24 mo) among nonpregnant women confirmed an important role for lactation. The likelihood of weight loss was significantly increased by lactation of more than 12-mo duration, by greater maternal age and by low dietary energy intake. The effects of lactation on maternal energy reserves can be mitigated substantially be increasing maternal dietary energy intakes. Researchers analyzed data on a large group of postpartum women in urban and rural areas of Cebu, the Philippines and gave birth during 1983-84 to examine short-term effects of lactation. They controlled for caloric intake, energy expenditure, reproductive history, and seasonality. About 14% had a body mass index of 18.5 indicating chronic energy deficiency. 55% of the women lactating at 24 months experienced net weight losses (=or 1 kg). Women in this group averaged a weight loss of 3.8 kg. They lost weight consistently during the 24 months. Lactation had a significant negative effect on the weight of urban women (p.01). These effects intensified as duration and intensity of breast feeding increased, e.g., for each 100 days postpartum, lactation caused 0.117 kg of weight loss. Among urban women,the main effect of full breast feeding for the 1st 6 months was significantly greater than that of partial breast feeding (p.01). By 6 months, urban mothers who exclusively breast fed had lost 3.6 kg. Rural mother did not begin to experience the negative effects of breast feeding until after 13.5 months. At the end of 24 months, they most likely los 1 kg. The key determinants of weight loss included breast feeding for 12 months, greater maternal age, low caloric intake, high energy expenditure, and low initial weight. These results suggested that caloric intake and lactation strongly affect maternal weight and weight loss. To improve the nutritional status of lactating mother, maternal and child health programs should place more emphasis on promoting adequate food intake among lactating mothers of low body mass. They should also continue to promote breast feeding to improve infant health.
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