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Trial Lecture – time and place
See Trial Lecture.
Adjudication committee
- First opponent: Associate professor Sharleen O'Reilly, University College Dublin, Ireland
- Second opponent: Associate professor Anine Christine Medin, University of Agder, Norway
- Third member and chair of the evaluation committee: Associate professor Thomas Sæther, University of Oslo
Chair of the Defence
Professor Jarle Breivik, University of Oslo
Principal Supervisor
Professor Hilde Kristin Brekke, University of Oslo
Summary
In Norway, 40% of women have overweight or obesity before pregnancy. Although weight gain is a natural part of pregnancy, childbearing can be the beginning of a vicious cycle, as women tend to gain weight for each pregnancy, thereby increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease later in life. Lactation seems to have protective cardiometabolic effects for the mother, but weight loss provides similar benefits, making it unclear whether the favorable effects of lactation are mediated through weight loss.
During lactation, women have increased nutritional requirements. In Norway, limited data exist on whether lactating women meet nutritional requirements.
Data from two RCTs of postpartum women with overweight and obesity in Oslo were used. Both trials used the same 12-week dietary intervention with a 0.5 kg weekly weight loss goal, starting approximately 10 weeks postpartum. The aims of this thesis were to evaluate the nutrient intake among lactating women compared to the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023, and to investigate the effects of a dietary intervention and breastfeeding promotion intervention (consisting of tailored breastfeeding support) on weight and cardiometabolic risk factors postpartum.
The majority had inadequate intakes of vitamins A and D, folate, selenium and iodine from diet alone. More than 50% still had inadequate intakes of vitamin A, folate and selenium when supplements were included.
The dietary intervention reduced weight and improved risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, also among women with higher BMI than previously studied. No effects of the breastfeeding promotion intervention were found, however, nearly all breastfed independently of intervention group.
These findings highlight the important role of diet postpartum in women with overweight and obesity. In Norway, postpartum follow-up is limited, representing a missed opportunity to enhance the health of childbearing women.
Additional information
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