Energy intake and activity level of normal weight and overweight women during and after gestation

Abstract

ENERGY INTAKE AND ACTIVITY LEVEL OF NORMAL WEIGHT AND OVERWEIGHT WOMEN DURING AND AFTER GESTATION. C.S. Elliff, PhD, RD, LD, and K.S. Kubena, PhD, RD, LD, Lamar University, Beaumont TX, and Texas AM n9 NW and 7 OW for other periods). Subjects maintained a 3day food record (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) and a 1-day activity record during each measurement period. Although energy intake on a kcal/kg body weight basis tended to be lower in OW than in NW women at each measurement period, no significant differences were found in energy intake between NW and OW women. Weight gains in NW and OW groups were similar [NW 14.7±3.7, OW 14.5_ 9.1 kg (mean±SD)]. Energy intake also did not differ among gestation periods. Women who reported dieting to lose weight during the three years prior to gestation tended to have lower energy intakes than those who had not dieted. Energy intake was significantly lower for women who reported losing > 6.8 kg during the previous three years when compared to energy intake of women who had lost less weight; however, their gestational weight gains were similar. Activity records indicated that more time was spent sitting at wk 12-13 and 37-38 of gestation and postpartum than at wk 2526 gestation. At each time period, OW women reported from 7 to 15% more time spent in sedentary activities and 15 to 28% less time in more active ones than reported by the NW group. Results support the need to consider activity level and weight status, as well as dieting and recent weight changes, in assessing adequacy of energy intake to achieve optimal gestational weight gain. Lactating women had an average energy intake of 1945±490 kcal which did not differ from the intake of 1642±506 kcal by nonlactating women. Energy intake by NW and OW women was similar regardless of lactation status. Perhaps because of the time spent breastfeeding, lactating women were significantly less active than nonlactating women which may explain why they did not lose more weight than nonlactating ones in spite of their higher energy demands.