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STUDY BY UNCG NUTRITIONIST PUBLISHED IN
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE

GREENSBORO — The lead article in today’s issue of The New England Journal of Medicine by a nutritionist at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro offers good news for overweight breast-feeding mothers concerned about losing weight.

The study by Dr. Cheryl Lovelady, associate professor of nutrition, shows a sensible program of exercise and weight loss while breast-feeding does no harm to the infant and offers cardio-vascular benefits to the mother. Prior to this, many doctors have recommended women not restrict calories while breast-feeding, even if they are obese.

“A lot of people are nervous about recommending energy restrictions to breast feeding women because they think it may affect the amount of milk she could produce,” Lovelady said. “ What this study shows is that overweight women may begin to cut down on their fat and sugar intake when the baby is one month old. A slow weight loss of one pound per week did not affect the growth of the babies from four to fourteen weeks postpartum. Babies did not need supplemental formula, and mothers reported having more energy because they exercised four times per week.”

Lovelady’s research is the first time anyone has ever done a 10- week random-control study to examine weight loss with breast-feeding mothers, she added.

Participants in the study were approximately 20 percent overweight. Lovelady cut their diet by 500 calories a day, and placed them on a supervised exercise program. Mothers began walking for 15 minutes and gradually built up to 45 minutes each day. Lovelady had assistants visit study participants in their homes to help insure the exercise was performed. Women lost, on average 10.5 lbs. over the course of the 10-week study.

The findings may suggest that doctors should alter recommendations to lactating women on diet and exercise by advising that those who are overweight consult with a nutritionist to come up with a sensible weight-loss plan.

Lovelady, an associate professor in the Department of Nutrition and Foodservice Systems at UNCG, joined the faculty in 1992. She is a Fellow of the American Dietetic Association, and her research has focused on the effects of nutrition, exercise, vitamins and environmental contaminants on lactating women. Lovelady received her master’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley, and her doctorate from UC Davis.

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