Changes in Food Choice During a Successful Weight Loss Trial in Overweight and Obese Postpartum Women

ObjectiveTo examine changes in intake across food groups during a weight loss trial that produced significant and sustainable weight loss in lactating women receiving dietary treatment. MethodsAt 10-14 wk postpartum, 61 overweight and obese lactating Swedish women were randomized to a 12-wk dietary (D), exercise (E), combined (DE), or control (C) treatment. Food intake was assessed by 4-d weighed diet records which were used to examine changes in intake across seven food groups from baseline to 12 wk and 1 y after randomization. Differences in changes in food choice between women receiving dietary treatment (D+DE) and no dietary treatment (E+C) were examined using multivariate linear regression. ResultsAt baseline, sweets and salty snacks contributed to 2110 percent of total energy intake (E%). During the intervention period, women receiving dietary treatment reduced their E% from sweets and salty snacks and caloric drinks and increased their E% from vegetables more than did women not receiving dietary treatment (all P<0.010). At 1 y, the increased E% from vegetables was maintained significantly higher among women receiving dietary treatment (P=0.002). ConclusionsLactating women receiving dietary treatment achieved sustainable weight loss through changes in food choice in line with current dietary guidelines.