The relationship between breastfeeding and postpartum weight change—a systematic review and critical evaluation

Abstract

Pregnancy and the postpartum period is a time of increased vulnerability for retention of excess body fat in women. Breastfeeding (BF) has been shown to have many health benefits for both mother and baby; however, its role in postpartum weight management is unclear. Our aim was to systematically review and critically appraise the literature published to date in relation to the impact of BF on postpartum weight change, weight retention and maternal body composition. Electronic literature searches were carried out using MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, BIOSIS, CINAHL and British Nursing Index. The search covered publications up to 12 June 2012 and included observational studies (prospective and retrospective) carried out in BF mothers (either exclusively or as a subgroup), who were ≤ 2 years postpartum and with a body mass index (BMI) >18.5 kg m(-2), with an outcome measure of change in weight (including weight retention) and/or body composition. Thirty-seven prospective studies and eight retrospective studies were identified that met the selection criteria; studies were stratified according to study design and outcome measure. Overall, studies were heterogeneous, particularly in relation to sample size, measurement time points and in the classification of BF and postpartum weight change. The majority of studies reported little or no association between BF and weight change (n=27, 63%) or change in body composition (n=16, 89%), although this seemed to depend on the measurement time points and BF intensity. However, of the five studies that were considered to be of high methodological quality, four studies demonstrated a positive association between BF and weight change. This systematic review highlights the difficulties of examining the association between BF and weight management in observational research. Although the available evidence challenges the widely held belief that BF promotes weight loss, more robust studies are needed to reliably assess the impact of BF on postpartum weight management.

Breastfeeding and the Risk of Maternal Cardiovascular Disease: A Prospective Study of 300 000 Chinese Women

“…Prolonged breastfeeding has been associated with improved β‐cell function,20 more favorable cardiovascular risk factor profiles,4, 21 and lower risks of incident hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus 8, 9. In contrast, studies on the potential benefits of breastfeeding on gestational weight retention and body adiposity in later life have reported mixed results 22, 23, 24. In a previous analysis of this study, we did not find a relationship between breastfeeding duration and general or central adiposity 22.…”

Efeitos do ganho de peso gestacional e do aleitamento materno na retenção de peso pós-parto em mulheres da coorte BRISA

“…Saúde Pública 2017; 33 (5) Um achado importante desta pesquisa foi o efeito total negativo da duração do aleitamento materno na RPPP, sugerindo que mães que amamentaram por mais tempo tiveram menor RPPP. Esses resultados ajudam a esclarecer os resultados inconsistentes encontrados na literatura 38,39 sobre o papel do aleitamento materno como preditor da RPPP, embora vários estudos já suportem a relação inversa entre o aleitamento materno exclusivo ou parcial e a RPPP 16 investigarem a relação entre a duração da lactação e os níveis de leptina, adiponectina, grelina e peptí-deo YY maternos, apoiaram a plausibilidade biológica de menor ganho de peso entre as mulheres que amamentam. Os resultados da investigação mostraram que longos períodos de aleitamento materno foram associados com níveis mais elevados de grelina e peptídeos YY três anos após o parto.…”

Breastfeeding Pattern and Duration and Post-Partum Maternal Weight Retention

“…Five hospitals of the city (99% of deliveries) received the visit of standardized interviewers who applied a questionnaire to the mothers. Demographic, socio-economic, reproductive, behavioral, prenatal care, gestational and pre-gestational morbidities, and newborn characteristics information were collected [13]. A written informed consent was obtained from the mothers before every follow-up.…”