Is Postpartum Weight Loss Recommended?

Weight gain during pregnancy is normal and recommended for both the baby and the mother’s health.¹ A normal-weight woman is suggested to gain 25-35 lbs during pregnancy and is recommended to gradually return to pre-pregnancy weight. However, women typically retain 1-10 lbs after giving birth, and nearly a quarter of them may retain more than 10 lbs postpartum.²

Is It Important to Go Back to Pre-Pregnancy Weight?

Weight gained during pregnancy and retained afterwards contribute significantly to female overweight and obesity.² It is estimated that more than two-thirds of women weigh more than their pre-pregnancy weight six months after giving birth. Although common, this weight retention can become long-term and can affect future risk of developing obesity.^2,3 Studies indicate that women who returned to their pre-pregnancy weight at six months postpartum only gained 2.4 kg in a 10-year period, while those who did not return to their pre-pregnancy weight gained 8.4 kg in a 10-year period.

How Should Weight Loss be Approached?

Postpartum weight loss should be approached gradually, keeping in mind the women’s recovery as well as breastfeeding needs. A rapid weight loss may negatively affect breastfeeding, while studies show that a gradual weight loss of 0.5 kg (or 1.1 lb) per week or a 2 kg (or 4.4 lb) per month does not affect breastmilk quantity or quality.^4,5 Research also indicates that implementing both dietary changes and physical activity is most effective at achieving postpartum weight loss.² For instance, a systemic review and meta-analysis of postpartum women found that interventions that combine diet and exercise, are shorter in duration (<6 months), and utilize self-monitoring saw the greatest weight loss. Implementing dietary changes was found to have a significant impact on weight loss, with approaches that combined diet and exercise resulting in twice as much weight loss as approaches that only utilized exercise.